Verne Q. Powell (b. 7 Apr. 1879 Danville, Indiana; d. Feb. 3, 1968 Needham, Massachusetts) started playing flute as a young boy in Kansas. His family were all musicians, but their trade was silversmithing. Verne was always encouraged to enjoy music, but he was trained by his family in jewelry making and engraving. In 1910, Verne visited Chicago to attend a recital by renowned flutist Georges Barrère. Barrère was performing on a silver flute, something Verne had never heard before. Verne was impressed with the sound, and set out to make a silver flute for himself.
Verne melted down various bits of silver (including a “handful of silver half-dollars,” 7 spoons and 3 watch cases) to create the parts of the now famous “spoon flute.” Upon completing the instrument Verne began performing on it regularly. In a short time, William S. Haynes, owner of the Wm. S. Haynes Flute Company of Boston, Massachusetts, heard of Powell’s instrument and asked to see it. Upon review, he offered Verne a job at his shop.
| Serial number | Year of make |
| 1-72 | 1855 |
| 73-156 | 1856 |
| 157-230 | 1857 |
| 231-330 | 1858 |
| 331-425 | 1859 |
| 426-509 | 1860 |
| 510-603 | 1861 |
| 604-710 | 1862 |
| 711-795 | 1863 |
| 796-883 | 1864 |
| 884-981 | 1866 |
In 1916, Verne Powell joined the Wm. S. Haynes Company to make wooden flutes and piccolos. By 1926, Powell was the shop foreman at Haynes and was running much of the business. Later that year, he left Haynes to make his own flutes. In 1927, Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. was incorporated at 295 Huntington Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. More information on Powell Flutes.