I just bought this off of ebay and should be receiving it in a few days. Just another fixer-upper project for fun. Anyone have guesses on the age and/or origin?
My guess is an antique german rosewood flute as seen in Sears & Roebuck catalogues.
Hope it fixes up nicely!
Eric
Thanks. I’ll get it to play, and if I don’t like it, maybe I can trade a couple whistles for it or something 
If it’s not been played in a long while (looks like it from the pictures), it’s sound will improve with humidification and through moisture via playing. James reported about a year out his antique sounded much better.
Eric
many old flutes that have not been played in years indeed take a while to play in, so to speak.
The key is oiling regularly and humidification (the most critical).
My Hudson-Pratten is just now…after 3 years…playing to full potential. I’ve been playing it all along, but this year seems to be its time to kick into gear.
My best guess is the flute had not been played in 75 years.
The rudall that I just acquired has not seen a note through it in at least 35 years, but likely 100. That one will take time to get into proper condition.
So relax, do the grunt work and don’t give up on the first toot.
Utmost, be sure it seals properly and well. Even the teeniest leak will compromise a note.
Thanks for the advice. Jayhawk helped me out a lot getting my 1880s Huller into good playing condition (thanks again!), so I am somewhat experienced with that now. This one I think will be easier, because it’s much simpler and apparently in better shape.
The metalwork on it looks old. The headjoint’s all full of webs. Eew! Fortunately, there are no passengers. The wood, however, looks like it’s in good shape, aside from the one crack. One tenon fits together nicely, the other does not. I’ll get it to work first with teflon tape to test it out, then I will probably wrap it with thread, which I’ve never done before.
Doh, I’d forgetten about your Huller flute! How’s it playing?
Eric
Quite beautifully! I hardly ever put it down. I’ve asked Jon C to make me a wooden headjoint for it, because I like a more woody tone, but as it is it’s quite playable and surprisingly powerful, though not necessarily loud.
This “new” one isn’t half bad. The tone is BEAUTIFUL. I rethreaded the joints, taped over the Eb hole, and with the help of a friend got the cork stopper free. I’ll make a new stopper and then start humidifying it. Tuning’s a little funky, but controllably. The E’s are comparatively weak, unfortunately, but the rest of it sounds great!
Sounds like you picked up a really good deal! Congratulations.
Eric