I’ve just posted an ad for an 8-key flute made by Chris Wilkes in 1993. This is a Rudall-style flute owned by Jim Curtin, one of the finest Irish flute players in the northeastern US.
Check it out at:
Very nice.
So what’s the current retail price?
According to Chris Wilkes’s web site, he’s charging 1800 pounds Sterling for an 8-key flute these days. According to my trusty currency calculator, that works out to US $3405, or 2657 Euro.
Beautiful flute but no pennies to spare.
Wow, that’s a nice looking flute. I’d make a bid on it myself if I wasn’t firmly wedded at this point to my 6-key Olwell. Jim is indeed a great flute player (as well as being a nice guy), I remember him fondly from his days in the DC area before he moved the family up to New England for a more bucolic Yankee life. So Brad, please reassure us that Jim’s not giving up the flute and that he’s got something just as nice or even nicer than this Wilkes flute to keep on playing!
Don’t worry, Jim’s not giving up the flute, thank goodness! I wish he weren’t giving up THIS particular flute, but he does have a keyless Olwell that he’s been playing for a few years.
Must…resist…reaching…for…checkbook…
Wait, I don’t have the cash. phew that was close.
However, if I had bought it, I would have sounded just like Kevin Crawford, right?
Right?
Eddie
Mr Crawford is sponsored to promote an inferior brand of flute these days . Mr Wilkes will do nothing to encourage the use of his flutes by celebrated musicians if it means moving them up his order list at the expense of ordinary players .He says that is the sort of thing that young flute makers do who have to look for business !
The man, Wilkes, has stolen my heart, Andrew; now
if only I could steal his flute. Best,
Yes, indeed a beautiful flute and I assume that it plays well too. 3.400 USD (24.353 Swedish crowns) is a fair price for such an instrument. There is a 6 key Sam Murray D flute up for sale for 2750 euros (25.190 Swedish crowns) (wooden flute list), and a player at our local session paid 25.000 Swedish crowns) for a new 8 key blackwood Grinter in November 2003.
I see James wants more than the current retail price so it would be interesting to see how much the Wilkes goes for if the buyer makes it public - hope it goes to a good home and gets played
I must remember to leave you my Wilkes flute in my will , Jim .Far better than all those Rudalls .It doesn’t matter what happens to them !
I thought I was in your will, I already had your murder carefully planned - oh well… 
It’s almost a shame that this isn’t a public auction as it would be fascinating to see just what value a Wilkes, available now, would reach. I’m not aware of one ever coming up for sale, and with an 8 year list, there must be a good chance that silly money (I suppose you could say Rudall money) might change hands.
Cheers
Graham
PS - Don’t worry Andrew, the murder was due to be painless, you wouldn’t have felt a thing as I clubbed you to death with a fake Nicholson (Oops - wrong thread, sorry)
I would rather read your posts than have the flute.
Thanks anyhow.
“It’s almost a shame that this isn’t a public auction as it would be fascinating to see just what value a Wilkes, available now, would reach. I’m not aware of one ever coming up for sale, and with an 8 year list, there must be a good chance that silly money (I suppose you could say Rudall money) might change hands.” Graham.
I purchased a fine keyless blackwood Chris Wilkes flute in November for a very fair price, considering the 8 year wait for a keyless. A professional Irish trad musician, a flute player, said some would pay twice as much in Ireland as what I gave for the flute. I won’t divulge the price, that would be bad manners - but it is possible to obtain fine instruments at fair prices, if you have the luck to come across them, can scrape the cash together, and can make quick decisions, as they soon get snapped up by someone else
And there is the problem - how many of us have that kind of luck!
Graham
I believe the 8 year wait is for keyed flutes, not keyless.
“I believe the 8 year wait is for keyed flutes, not keyless.” Brad.
No, it is indeed 7-8 years unfortunately as Chris Wilkes is working on his keyed flute orders. From what I understand a batch of keyless flutes has been completed, all ordered - Andrew would probably know how many. Chris’ waiting list was discussed in an earlier thread either here or on wooden flute last autumn. I even had a mail from Chris Wilkes confirming the long wait when I tried to order a new keyless in September or October.
I fear , Jim ,that when my will becomes effective my ( awful ) posts will cease, unless the internet has widened it’s connections by then .
Thanks anyway for such a nice and delicate comment .
I should have said , Jim, that I do not intend to be dead more than three days .I read it in a book once .
Chris made seven keyless flutes in the last batch . They take him so long to adjust they were distorting his "keyed"order book .He says at least 8 years before he can face doing any more .You never can tell !
Has the Wilkes 8 key been sold? I suppose so 