I made a mistake and played the Cotter again.
I had put it away for several weeks. Not so easy
to part with. Inner voice saying I would be daft
to let it go. I’ll hold it till I get the Olwell
and see how I feel then. If I post it again
I will definitely see the thing through.
Thanks to all.
I’ve done business with Jim on many occasions. He’s a fine fellow.
I’ve also played this flute and was quite impressed (Jim bought it from the store a year or two ago I believe). It was one of those I kicked myself for selling but I’m just not a Pratten guy and can’t keep them all.
Doc
A new one costs 2839 dollars plus shipping from the UK
And there we were, thinking he’s only a few miles away in Kilmaley.
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I bought the Cotter from
Doc in Sept 07. I believe it was two years old at the time.
I’m about to receive a keyed Olwell and must
raise some money.
Yikes! Did you reach the end of Olwell’s waiting list? I’ve heard of such things happening but never actually new someone. 
Doc
It’s a retrofitt. I already had the flute, keyless.
I pleaded geezerhood.
I said, Patrick, if I wait until I get a keyed flute, I’ll be too old to play it. So I’m getting
a six-blocked body and three keys. Then
in a year or two I’ll get the other three keys.
Patrick Olwell is a compassionate fellow,
in fact.
It’s one of the benefits of being so friggin old,
but truth be told, I’d rather be young.
Congratulations Jim!! A keyed Olwell is no small thing. I’m feeling a bit green 
, but I’m glad for you!!
Thank you, I’m getting a C nat, a G sharp and a short F nat key.
Which three would you’all get?
He is one of the finest of fellows. As are most flute makers in my experience. 
Do you think he’d move me up on the list if I told him I was 308 in dog years? I am a veterinarian after all. 
Doc
Hmmm, I’d get long F, Eb and G#…then you’re fully chromatic.
Cnat and Bb can be crossfingered well and Short F keys often bug me. Besides, some of the tunes I play go from Fnat to D which is miserable to do w/ a short F key.
On second thought I’d probably swap the Eb for a C nat. C nat keys are handy and fun and only squares play tunes with Eb in 'em.
Doc
Yes, maybe a long F key.
Patrick O once accused my of flute abuse.
Two months in, the barrel of my pratten cracked.
I called him. He said nothing like this had happened
in years. He said: ‘This is flute abuse!’
‘No,’ I cried. I am not a flute abuser!
Self abuse, maybe, but flute abuse,
never!’
So I sent him the barrel and waited,
wracked with guilt. I dreamed at night that
I would have to wear a scarlet ‘F’ and the
world would know my sin.
Patrick told me there was a defect in the
wood. Not my fault. I said I wanted to
send him money anyway, so I sent
him 40 dollars.
Hmmmmm - just not buying that defective wood story . You need to send me that flute when you get it. I’d treat her right.
Ah, the Mike Rafferty gambit. Well played. You do realize, though, that you’re now on the hook to produce three CDs of exceptionally-played Irish traditional music with that flute, don’t you? If you have an accordion-playing daughter she’s allowed to help, but otherwise you’re on your own. Get cracking now. You’re old and haven’t much time left, after all.
There but for the absence of real talent
and a childhood in Ireland with a musician father
go I! I started playing flute at 60. If passion could
make up the deficit I would be OK. Left to my
own devices I will play and practice until I’m
injured.
Meanwhile Mike R himself led the master’s class
at the St. Louis Tional two years ago playing
an unkeyed Olwell Pratten. He swiped it
from his daughter.
One thing I will say: it is very nice, as one grows older,
to have this pursuit. I feel like I’m 16 when I play
these instruments. Even in the snow it turns out
some flowers bloom.
I’m being asked for pictures. I don’t even have
a camera, I’m afraid. Maybe someone can
find something? I’ll keep looking. meanwhile I found this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIAShRwfoQE
The flute Cotter is playing looks like its been set up
for 8 keys with the bottom two removed.
Mine is set up for six.
NOTE: This turns out NOT to be a Cotter but an antique,
as several eagle eyed flute fanatics have informed me.
I leave the link cause it’s a great video.
I have feeling that is actually a vintage flute and not one of his own design.
Great vid BTW.
Dave Migoya writes to confirm that this isn’t
one of E Cotter’s but an antique. Thanks to
both of you for correcting my mistake.
it’s a Prattenesque flute…but the rings are all wrong for that.
The foot’s key blocks are broken, ergo the missing plug keys.
Not too many modern makers making the round plates for the two low keys.
And the slide is too far apart for a modern maker…
Still, the only indication are the G# and long-F keys.
They’re not clunky enough to be Pratten/Boosey.
The round plates put it in the 1850 range…
interesting
jim
you got the 3 keys i woulda chosen as well!
good on ye!
Dammit, I really hope to live well beyond when I can expect to get our (really my wife’s) 8-key, but maybe I can fake a disease or something.