Bad fife question for flute makers/repairers

Irish Flute
1

I recently picked up an old Cloos C fife off eBay. It is in very good condition, no cracks or dings, or anything. The cork is tight, and apparently not crumbling, at least on the action side. I can see nothing wrong with it.

However: This beast has no second octave C-natural! (This one: OXO XXX)
I own many fifes, some old, and some new, and I’ve never seen/heard anything like it. The only note that seems to come out when I finger the C is the second octave B instead (XOO OOO). I’ve tried moving the cork a bit, I’ve cleaned and oiled it, but nothing makes any difference.

I just don’t get what could possibly be going on from an acoustical perspective either. How could those two VERY different fingerings yield the same note???

I’m open to all ideas and suggestions (even if the suggestion is “Make a lamp”)

2

I dunno, but I have a Baroque flute on which XOO OOO and OXO OOO yield the same note.

Have you tried alternate fingerings? I have an Olwell Nicholson on which OXO XXX is very flat, and it sounds best with OXO XXO. There are many other possibilities, too.

3

half-hole?

4

My favorite high Cnat is OXX XXO.

5

That’s helpful, Avery.