http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16221&item=3779923480
what else can I say?
I will be glad and thanksfull to everyone for a gift like this!
I like Prowse flutes (even if this one is a pratten…)
do you like it?
do you prefer an antique 8keys or a New one (EX. a grinter)???
Frank
Beats me why anybody would call it a Pratten just 'cos it has a long middle joint.
Tha last one I saw ( often) had offset keys .
One of the few actually made ( retrospectively ) to play in tune !
The mounts are nice.
Aren’t reserves a pain ?
Money wise it makes more sense, IMHO, to buy a good quality antic. Its value will only go up. A copy or a flute made by a modern maker will start loosing value as soon as out of the workshop. A used flute by XXX (insert here the name of your favorite maker) will not sell for as much money as a brand new one (assuming same model, same wood and same everything).
Now for playability, it is another story. A think a good copy is a far safer bet than an antic, even an antic that looks great.
A very good quality antic should be viewed as collection item an not as a flute for session or practice.
Even the great pro may rarely play there beloved antic instruments. I was told that Chris Norman is playing mostly a copy of its R&R made by Rod Cameron, saving the real one for recording and concerts.
Cobblers.
Why not use the productions of the great makers of the past, especially if they are found in good nick.
Peoples eem to enjoy playing my 40 or so oldies because they are good flutes. They were a damn sight cheaper than the new "equivalents ", made for the most part with inferior keywork.
Hmm, actually many new flutes hold their value exceedingly well. You’ll not find an Olwell, Grinter, or Wilkes below cost. They often sell for more than the original price.
Many 100 plus year old flutes are played on a regular basis. I think it’s a shame for instruments not to be used for their intended purpose. Eventually they may indeed wear out but they’ve led a good life and what more could be asked.
There are collectors and then there are players. Both are good as many of the collected flutes do eventually fall into the hands of players.
And then start the destruction process…
The most well preserved instruments tend to be in the hands of collectors (and museums), not players.
Recently someone tried to sell on this board a McGee for the same price as new. He received comments saying that it was not worth it.
Another example (still a McGee) a Pratten black wood 6 keys in mint condition was sold with about 30% discount comparing with brand new price.
Now there are certainly some modern flutes that are selling for more than brand new cost. And there are also probably some antics that play as a good as a good modern flute. I think they both are very rare.
I agree that good antics can be a terrific bargain for a player. Not sure this is the best thing that can happen for the flute though.
A collector is most of the time also a player. A real collector will often have several antic flutes. Sometimes dozens. He cannot possibly play them all frequently. So those flutes do not wear much.
We see new flutes turning into antiques in the course of a couple of years ( Usually in Ireland). A player with acidic skin can ruin a flute in no time at all !
I can see on closer examination that I was not being fair about the niceness of the rings on M. J-M V’s father in law’s flute but I have managed to edit that post. I admit it !
They are very pretty.And the end cap is engine turned.
Does it play, though?
The only ones I have come across which do are the reworked ones.
Hmm. . . I was looking at the whistles offered by this seller, and they went away. Now the flute’s gone too!
Stuart
Damn, once again work keeps me missing out on all the excitement; I didn’t even get to take a look at the thing before the plug was pulled. Hmph.
Loren
It’s back! Very nice rings, this is exactly what Eilam wants on his new Cookstown Ironwood flute that I am making for him… Hummmm.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3780088237
Jon
How will you get / make the rings ?
Loren, have mine.
Not so pretty, but one works very well after a huge amount of work by Flutemaster Wilkes, and the other is NEW ( from 1850 ).
Hi Andrew,
what he wants and what he gets are two different things… (this is where I would put the smiley face, laughing.) Jon
hey !! that what my wife tells me too !!!
" (this is where I would put the smiley face, laughing.) Jon" 
Just wait about 150 years and your used Olwells, Grinters etc. will have appreciated and be valuable antiques!
150 years will give Mr Grintner time to improve his keywork, certainly.
Maybe Mr. Grintner is a reincarnation of Mr. Rudall, and is just picking up where he left off making flutes and keys in his last life.
As Peter Noy said, flute builders build flutes, keymakers make keys! So I think it is safe to say that Peter doesn’t make his own keys, nor does he seat the keys. Keyseaters do that.
I wonder how many of the flute makers make there own keys, and how many “sub” them out to silversmiths?
Jon
How many silversmiths are there who can see and forge a fine key ?
It seems to take many years for a keymaker to get his / her eye in.
That’s why makers just settle for 2nd rate cast keys.
Forging and fitting fine C keys is a great art.
Not quite lost, I am pleased to observe even if the likes of Mr Noy want to assemble flutes the way you describe out of bought in bits and other’s work.
Not my idea of a fine flute !
Your right about that! It is becoming rare to find craftmanship in the world of Walmarts and cheap imports. But I think it is still possible to work at the same degree of perfection. It just will cost more.
It would be nice to be able to make keys like the ones on Eilam’s Monzani, the C#/C keys were so smooth with almost no tension.
I wonder if Monzani had a outside source for his keys, or made them in house?
Jon
I’m sure Noy makes his own key.
he may be really shy 