John
Miller and John Wicks, who initially started the company had been in
partnership since 1969. They both learned their skills at the famous flute
manufactures Rudall Carte & Co based in London.
When
Rudall Carte & Co ceased production in 1960 four of their employees
including John Miller and John Wicks carried on the instrument making art by
themselves.
John
Miller and John Wicks, the only surviving members of this group and had been
working together for 27 years. During that time they had been perfecting
the famous "Miller Wicks" Bb flute. Early in 2005 the couple
decided to retire and sell their business. The company
was relocated to Kilkeel in Northern Ireland where the famous Miller
Wicks flute is now manufactured.
The
Miller Wicks flute made by the old company was an exceptionally good instrument
but it was felt that it could be even better, so the new company set about
perfecting it. It was felt that the instrument needed to have a slightly
different bore, one based more closely on another famous Bb flute the Crown AZ
manufactured by Hawks and Sons London and also that the key work could
benefit from a redesign, and so the new Crown model was born. The new flute has
been greatly received by marching bands and solo flute players and with the
addition of the new Crown Eb piccolo and F flute Miller Wicks has found its
order books always full.
The
Miller Wicks Crown Bb is widely regarded by many flute players to be the best
wooden flute available on the market today.