I currently have a unique opportunity to purchase an eight key simple system flute that appears to have been made in the late 19th century.
The unique situation is that I get to do the leg-work to determine the fair-market value. Lately, I've been watching e-bay for similar flutes and tracking their asking and going prices. This has produced a wide variety of prices. However, the more I watch, the more stable the price for like flutes seems to be. I am also making an appointment to meet with my repair tec to get his estimate.
Can anybody here make a rough estimate of the market value of this flute? Below is a brief description of the flute.
I'm not sure as to the wood that it's made of. However, it appears to be the same as most wood clarinets I've seen. It's in need of repair (new cork and pads). There is a crack at the base of the head-joint that appears to be repaired with some form of epoxy. Part of the crack is over a metal lining and the other half is over a joint. I don't think it leaks at that point as the notes in the upper stack play beautifully. It has a tuning slide. With the leaks (most likely from the pads and corked joints) I am only able to play two octaves (an octave and a half really - it takes some work to get the other half to voice). There are no markings on the flute. The notes that voice in the flute's present condition seem to do so nicely (actually my wife prefers it's sound to my Selmer Omega - makes me wonder about the Selmer's condition, but I remind myself, I'm a saxophonist first and only pretend to play the flute). The notes that voice seem to play tolerably well in tune. I'm curious as to how it will sound with new pads and cork.
My goal with this instrument is not so much to have a killer 19th century flute for gigs and recordings, but instead to have a little piece of history and to appreciate what musicians from an earlier time had to work with. I also do some 19th century historical interpretation and would love to develop a presentation on the 19th century flute (you'd be surprised at how many people think that the fife was the only flute back then).
Any suggestions concerning the fair-market value of this instrument (or where to go to find it) would be helpfull. Thanks,
Peace,
Kounstantinou
Question concerning late 19th century simple system flutes
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Kounstantinou
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:05 pm
- Location: North Carolina
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
well, I cant really help with estimating the price of this flute, but I can tell you a little bit about other things. IF the wood is black (like most clarinets) the wood is probably grenadilla. Most wooden piccolos are made out of this wood. However, I havent seen this specific instrument, so I cant really tell. the replacement of pads and cork will help the playing quality quite a bit I think, and also, make sure that you have the flute re-oiled with bore oil. Also, have that crack looked at. It might need more repair (althought doubtful if it has already been fixed by a quality technitian). I have had my flute repadded and recorked in the past and it did wonders to how it played.
In relation to sound, I know others have a different opinion on this, but the kind of material that the flute is made of makes a difference in the sound quality. Of course craftsmanship makes a difference too (some really well made plated flutes can play circles around some all sterling silver flutes), but different materials have different sound qualities. So, this comment of better sound quality is probably the difference in how you sound on wood versus silver. Also keep in mind that one is much older than the other, so there will be many differences in sound in that respect as well.
In relation to sound, I know others have a different opinion on this, but the kind of material that the flute is made of makes a difference in the sound quality. Of course craftsmanship makes a difference too (some really well made plated flutes can play circles around some all sterling silver flutes), but different materials have different sound qualities. So, this comment of better sound quality is probably the difference in how you sound on wood versus silver. Also keep in mind that one is much older than the other, so there will be many differences in sound in that respect as well.
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Kounstantinou
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:05 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Thanks for your input - the wood is black.
I think you're right about the sound quality. I know that the type of metal can make a difference in saxophones, so why not the type of material in flutes? I never really thought of the difference in sound based on the age of the instrument. Of course that makes sense. Again with the saxophones... there is a difference between the sound quality of vintage verses modern saxes as well as craftsmanship. Funny how we can get so focused on one particular aspect (or instrument) and forget to carry relevant information over to the next. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
I think you're right about the sound quality. I know that the type of metal can make a difference in saxophones, so why not the type of material in flutes? I never really thought of the difference in sound based on the age of the instrument. Of course that makes sense. Again with the saxophones... there is a difference between the sound quality of vintage verses modern saxes as well as craftsmanship. Funny how we can get so focused on one particular aspect (or instrument) and forget to carry relevant information over to the next. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!