Hey Jon, Sturob, and others who’ve bought old flutes off of ebay,
How do you find the things? Seems like by the time I get the pakistani-chinese-dragon-jade-pin-sheet-music stuff weeded out, there’s nothing left.
I’ve bought a few off ebay. I dunno whether they’ve been diamonds in the rough, or whether hundred-year-old flutes generally have a lot of character. One was a dud (head and body from different flutes), which I returned to the seller for a refund. I found the sound of a couple of them, one a no-name, the other a Mollenhauer now in the posession of Sillydill, truly wonderful. The tuning of both had “features”, but for an investment of $2-300, I wouldn’t expect an Olwell or Hammy or something.
Hey Dow,
As one who regularly trawls ebay. 
Just type in Irish Flute under the search field, then follow the other relevant searches suggested near the top of the page.
Best of luck!
Catch a whale, or at least a Pratten!
Jordan
that is what i do. 
I had to stop looking… was getting infectious.
I’ve got some fun stuff.
I think Jon C. has bought them all though.
He does come up with some nice flutes. I especially liked the looks of that 4-key boxwood that he was recently bragging, er… talking about.