Howdy folks…
Pardon my ignorance, but who were the Victorian Concert Flutemakers?
Not that I’m interested in this particular eBay auction, but the flute does look like its in exceptional condition… 
Is this seller a fellow Chiffer perhaps??
The word “rare” in ebay listings always makes me suspicious somehow.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_67061_en.pdf
“The Army and Navy Co-operative Society Ltd were formed in 1871 by a group of army and navy
officers. It was their intention to supply “articles of domestic consumption and general use to its
members at the lowest numerative rates”. The first store opened on 15 February 1872 at Victoria
Street, London.”
So it’s after 1871.
Not sure why they make such a fuss of 432hz. “Massively valuable because this instriment can be tuned to 432 hertz simply by winding in the precise wooden screw plunger.” Oh yes?
It does look like a nice flute though.
I see the title is (now?) calling it Edwardian rather than Victorian; this would imply a date in the first decade of last century.
Well, let’s face it, the vendor is barely literate! FWIW this looks to be yet another Liddle-keyed typical late C19th generic “nach Metzler” London flute of the kind we’re familiar with. Given its period, no way is this a low pitch flute, though it might get down to 430-ish with the slide way out. The stopper adjustment certainly won’t get it there!
It’s again on eBay with reduction in price:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Beautiful-Rare-Rosewood-8-key-Flute-/321673412482
A) A £519.00 reduction in opening bid price within a fortnight?
B) The vendor’s alarming feedback history.
C) It seems as though the vendor has used Javascript to compile the article description. Not knowing anything about it,
I wonder why he/she would employ this tool, only to make such a hash of it! Perhaps someone can enlighten me?
The above points don’t exactly fill me me confidence, and whilst I have restored a few geniune Metzler flutes in the
past, the one anonymous copy of this ilk I picked up PLAYS LIKE AN ABSOLUTE DOG. Mind you, it cost less than
a third of the opening bid amount this seller is asking.
I think I’ll let this one pass. 2TOOTS.
P.S. For what it’s worth, after closer inspection of said flute, I notice that the head/barrel is of same design as the afore
mentioned Metzler copy in my possession. That is with a flared tuning barrel and reduced o/s. diameter to the actual
head. Only 26. mm. opposed to 28. mm. on the genuine article. This difference may not appear to be of any great
consequence, but the reduction in depth to the embouchure chimney as a result - really IS.
Personally I have never got on with heads/flutes with shallow embouchures, finding them difficult to play. This may not
affect everyone out there to the same degree as myself, but worth a mention all the same.
2TOOTS.
And again with another price drop: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Beautiful-Army-and-Navy-Rare-Rosewood-8-key-Flute-Great-for-Irish-Music-/321679995878?
Same BS description, more realistic price.
You can still buy named flutes for less on ebay, if you are willing to do the trawling and be patient, without the risk. It is a buyer’s market after all. The " Metzleresque " I picked up on ebay was in pretty good nick, although not gleaming like this example, but it might be worth considering that an incredibly well preserved flute has had little use. O.K. I know that’s obvious,
but then you have to ask yourself why? 1. It’s a " Closet Classic " - possible, though unlikely in this case given the original vendor’s target customer base. 2. The instrument has barely been played/handled - probable, then you’d have to wonder why?
If you are in the market for a decent playing/sounding antique flute, believe me when I say you can do better. 2TOOTS.
I’m not disagreeing - I wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole. The seller does not inspire confidence with the nonsense in the description, and is clearly not a flute player - no mention of how it actually sounds and plays, other than a nonsensical reference to 432Hz.
I doubt it’s unplayable the way some Nach-Meyers are, but I wouldn’t go any further. The craftsmanship of the block-work looks alright, but the holes look sort of rough - though that might be dirt and grime.
The main point I was trying to make is that superficially, this looks to be a well finished flute, and I’ve inspected a few like it ( ones with dealership/shop names.) e.g. Jones, Commercial Road, London. It took many hours of alteration work to get the Jones up to a decent level of play-ability. It was only when I got up close and stripped this flute down, that it’s shortcomings in craftsmanship & finish became glaringly obvious. It is now a playable flute, not too much in the way of projection, but a reasonably sweet tone (shallow chimney depth like this one) but and that’s a big BUT - you have to be a really skillful player to make it sing. That’s why it’s in my son’s possession and not mine. I must admit it is extremely difficult/impossible to make that kind of appraisal from half a dozen or so photos, no matter how well taken they are, and how spruced up the subject matter. That is why I quickly turned my attention exclusively to instruments with a reputable name stamped on them. You’re usually rewarded with at least your money’s worth, and quite often a whole lot more.
Regards 2TOOTS.
Yes, all good points.