This is a copy of the ad on the used instrument exchange forum.
This flute is by Sam Murray (stamped “Muraeus”). It’s his usual, renowned, blackwood flute with 3 keys (long C, long F and G#). It has a tuning slide, of course. It is in as-new condition, is of relatively recent manufacture and comes in a sturdy McNeela Music case. The flute has had no cracks, splits, dings or any damage of any kind. It looks just like new. The consumable items, i.e. joints, pads and threaded joints, are all in great condition. It plays stonkingly well, as you would expect from a Murray flute. My reason for selling is financial, not musical. They currently cost £1662 new, with a “6 month” waiting list (as if…). You can have this one for £1350 o.n.o. with no waiting list. PM me for photos, etc.
When did Sam Murray start stamping his flutes “Mureaus” And why ? First time I’ve come across this, so I’m curious.
He never had any problem selling them with “Murray” on them.
I saw “Muraeus” flutes by Murray 15 years ago already (right, Marin?). Never understood why, I guess he made 'em with this stamp just for fun.
Have you still got yours, Kenny?
I have seen ‘Murraeus’ ones in Powell’s at the Four Corners. But Sam stamped the one I got off him as ‘Murray’. I sort of considered the possibility he used the ‘Murraeus’ for the shop sold ones and the ‘Murray’ for direct sales. But it is just speculation.
At the time I got mine, his son, Seán, was helping out a bit, at least with keeping up with emails. If they both worked on flutes any cooperatively made flute making could be stamped ‘Murraeus’. That’s obviously more speculation.
I got this flute from a music retailer, so maybe your theory is correct. Actually it’s “Muraeus” with one “r”. That’s just in case there are any cheap foreign copies out there with a mis-spelled stamp!
I have seen ‘Murraeus’ ones in Powell’s at the Four Corners. But Sam stamped the one I got off him as ‘Murray’. I sort of considered the possibility he used the ‘Murraeus’ for the shop sold ones and the ‘Murray’ for direct sales. But it is just speculation.[quote][/quote]
I recieved my flute from Sam directly and flute have Muraeus logo on it.
Same situation was with friend of mine who recieved his flute few months after me…
Marin
The flute Sam took from me was stamped Murray
I could be wrong, but I think Muræus may be an attempt to “Latinise” the Surname Murray, by adding the “us” suffix. The æ ligature also originates from the Latin language. I’ve seen a couple of modern harpsichords where the the maker’s name seems to have been Latinised. More pertinent perhaps, is that there was a maker of flutes with the name Muræus in London. He was the successor to mid 18th. Century maker John Just Schuchart. Interestingly, Schuchart left his business to the apprentice Muræus, rather than his own Son. This may be because the latter of whom’s surviving instruments are very much below par.
Geez Uni Flute they were ´latinising´ surnames clear back in the Empire itself 
You had all these wild colonials trying to gain a little ´culture´ to go along with their shiny new Roman Citizenship 
And the Romans themselves were not beyond taking Greek proper nouns and making them into declined latin forms to get a little more ´class´ 
Mureaus would be the least of Sam´s peccadillos
Bob
hmm…a lot of interesting and erudite discussion but, up to now, no one wants to buy it. Oh well, them’s the breaks. I hereby lower the price (again) to £1250. The system won’t let me edit the original post.
This flute has now gone to All Flutes Plus in London, who will be selling it for me. I would now delete this thread, but I can’t figure out how to do that.
I don’t think it is possible for members to delete their threads once they have comments from others on it. We’ve had an interesting discussion about variations in Sam Murray’s flute stamping, which I think is worth preserving.
Good luck selling your flute. 