What do you think of this thing I bought yesterday?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7309308123&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
In spite of the description, it looks like a keyed whistle to me. I can’t wait to see it in a week or so.
Does anyone know what kind of mouthpiece would have been on it originally? I’d like to restore it as authentically as possible. Maybe a long narrow one like a flageolet?
Purchasing used musical instruments on eBay is always a hit-or-miss type of venture, but I’m sure you already know that. 
I had a piccolo body that was almost exactly like that one’s body (it was perhaps a bit shorter and more compact, a higher key mabey), but definately did not have the end-blown head on it. Perhaps the fipple end was made later or separately.
Mine had a faint “made in Germany” stamp on it.
The description of the item on eBay is, shall we say, fanciful? Piccolo, certainly, and I’d question where they came up with the idea that it’s 19th century.
The missing piece would almost certainly show it to be blown in the transverse manner like a flute.
That’s a flageolet. It could be a decent player…
The missing piece should be the sponge chamber with its mouthpiece.
–James
Whatever it is, it looks pretty cool, and for only thirty-something dollars, you can’t go wrong. Even if it is not the greatest thing in the world, it should still be nice to have and fun to play around on!
Collin 
What James said.
You can still play it just the way it is-- blow it like a recorder. You might find a picture of a flageole somewhere and see if a local woodturner can make the missing piece for you.
Cool looking little thing. I’m betting that James, Glauber and Jerry are right. I’ll be waiting to hear what you think of it after you actually get your hands on it and play with it a while. Good price if it plays at all!