Any idea of the value of my mom's vintage Artley flute?

[toddz]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could help estimate the value of my mom's flute, I've found a wide range of SOLD prices on Ebay but they're all for newer models or "student" flutes. Someone is interested in buying it from her and I want to make sure she gets a fair price. Here are the details:

INSCRIPTION ON MOUTHPIECE
-Sterling-
Artley "Symphony Deluxe"
Elkhart-Indiana
USA

Serial #3647 (all three pieces)
Purchased around 1945 at Schmoller & Mueller in Omaha, NE.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[fluteguy18]

If you're in the US, and it's in immaculate condition, recently serviced (in the past 2-3 months), and you find the right buyer... I still wouldn't expect more than a few hundred dollars at best. If the whole thing is sterling silver (body included), as a buyer I still wouldn't want to approach the $1000 mark at all. Flutes aren't like violins or other antiques where they appreciate over time. Flutes depreciate over time. Even an older, hand made, high end flute from that time period will retail in the $4-7k range when new it would cost anywhere from $12k-18k. The reason is that the quality of design and manufacture has improved drastically over the past century (particularly in the past 15-20 years). There's always the chance that I may be wrong, but Artley was a student line flute with the occasional step up thrown in.

Just my .02

[pied_piper]

The Artley Symphony model flute was an OK flute for it's time, but today they are not really in demand because more modern flutes generally play better. If you looked at eBay, you probably saw asking prices ranging from $80 to about $450. The key though is to look at the "completed listings" which will tell you what the item actually sold for. If you do that, you will see that NONE have sold recently regardless of price. As I said at the start, old Artley flutes, regardless of condition, are just not in demand.

[toddz]

The Artley Symphony model flute was an OK flute for it's time, but today they not really in demand because more modern flutes generally play better. If you looked at eBay, you probably saw asking prices ranging from $80 to about $450. The key though is to look at the "completed listings" which will tell you what the item actually sold for. If you do that, you will see that NONE have sold recently regardless of price. As I said at the start, old Artley flutes, regardless of condition, are just not in demand.

Yeah Ebay's SOLD listings were the first thing I looked at, and actually searching "Vintage Artley Flute" returns several recently sold flutes ranging from $45-$550 - and none of them were as old with such a low serial number. I'm more interested if it as any value as a collectible if it's a rare model.

[fluteguy18]

I'm more interested if it as any value as a collectible if it's a rare model.

Hate to break it to you, but it isn't rare or valuable. Yes it's older than most Artley flutes. If anything, age decreases its value. Unless it is in pristine condition and immaculately maintained... selling for its value as scrap silver or making a lamp out of it is probably your most profitable avenue. You may get lucky, but as PP said, Artley flutes have almost no demand whatsoever and supply is very very high.

[toddz]

Ok, thank you everyone for all for the information, your input is greatly appreciated!