-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Burnett [mailto:t@powellflutes.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 01:42
To: Prosono
Subject: RE: Thank you !

Dear Philippe,

Please accept my apologies for not responding sooner.  The press of business here and my having been out sick for several days (only the flu) has set things back this month, so I'm sorry to say I've had hardly a moment to write you.

We have turned about 150 pieces round so far, and I must say I have not seen wood of this quality in years.  So far, we are getting a reject rate of only 10-15%, which, for our purposes, is as good as it has ever been.  And I do have information on the reject rate of wood used here at Powell going back to 1956.  Like most makers, we "triage" the wood: 1) outright rejects; 2) tolerable quality pieces or pieces that need to be cut shorter than intended to make other parts; and 3) first quality pieces.  From what I see of the non-reject pieces, we are getting more than half in the "first quality" category.  That makes a rate of nearly 50% for very first quality pieces, and the remainder quite good quality as well.  These will mostly not be used for piccolo bodies because of knots, small inclusions, too abrupt a change in the direction of the grain, etc.  But the overall character of the wood is quite good, and almost every piece that I can't make into a piccolo body can be made into a head joint.

Recently, from other suppliers, we've had reject rates of over 40%, with almost no pieces in the first quality category.  Having had results like this,  we would certainly have no hesitancy to recommend you to other makers, and I would also be very happy to supply references for you to other makers.

Best wishes,

Tim Burnett
Manufacturing and Product Manager
Wooden Instruments
VERNE Q. POWELL FLUTES INC.
Maynard Massachussets - USA

From: Stephen Roberson [srl@cox.net]
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 13:53
To: Prosono
Subject: wood arrived
Phillippe,
The wood arrived in good order and I was pleased with what you sent. I'm interested in purchasing roughly 10 set of AAA 2 piece sets. When you get the chance please contact me when you have some sets available.
Steve
PS: I sent another builder your way, a gentleman by the name of Darren Hippner. He's a well respected classical guitar maker on the Westcoast of the States.

-----Original Message-----
From: rob aylward [mailto:rob.aylward@virgin.net]
Sent: 19 September 2005 11:24
To: Philippe Monbaron
Subject: Re: APOLOGIES - 3 JUMBO SETS STILL AVAILABLE

Thanks Philippe,

Thank you for the reply. I would like to order two additional sets of the master grade Jumbo African Blackwood. So if you could put them aside I would be most gratefull. It may take until next week to transfer the money as I am waiting for payment from a couple of customers. If you send the pro forma invoice I will start to organise things with the bank.
All the best.
Rob Aylward.
P.S. when I measured the moisture content of the timber you sent I was very impressed. Although I did not have the conversion for the reading (my meter is calibrated for Spruce), it seemed very dry. To you always dry it so well?

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Burnett [mailto:tb@powellflutes.com]
Sent: 13 December 2005 08:16
To: Philippe Monbaron
Subject: RE: AFRICAN BLACKWOOD, MOPANE, PINK IVORY FOR FLUTES AND PICCOLOS