I’m bidding on a couple of cool flutes on tradera.com (Swedish equivalent of ebay), and I was wondering if someone here might be able to help me identify them, as the sellers seem to have no clue and neither do I.
The first one. Described as “old”, 44 cm (17.3") in length.
The second one. Eight holes, made in India.
What kinds of flutes are these? Any ideas?
No idea about the second one.
The first one is nearly certainly a fairly usual type of folk whistle from either Hungary (I think most likely), or maybe Slovakia or Romania. They have the fipple on the other side from the fingerholes, and because of it a technique is possible, in which the player influences the sound by pushing his/her lower lip further in and out of the mouth. They use a lot of humming when playing, that will produce a drone as well as a kind of intermittent, warbling sort of sound. When done well, it can be absolutely fascinating. Anyway, these are the techniques behind the inversion of the fipple.
They are also often tuned in neutral thirds, and sometimes sevenths as well. If you look at the photo, the third fingerhole is the same size as the oters, so it might be the case with this one, too.
Thanks for the info Yuri!
This sounds odd. Do you mean that the fipple is on the opposite side of the finger holes? If so… how the heck do you hold the instrument?
Hmm. Sounds like I might have limited use for it then. I have been outbid on both flutes right now, though there is still more than a week left of both auctions. I haven’t decide whether I should bid again. I need to figure out how much money I’m willing to spend on instruments I might never find a use for 
I meant on the opposite side than the fingerholes are on. As if you took a normal whistle and rotated the fipple 180 degrees.
Okay, another auction I’ve been looking at. What is this, some kind of fife?
yep…made by AULOS like it sez in the ad.
I don’t know the model, etc.
I see, thanks. I think I’ll keep bidding on this one as long as the price stays within reasonable limits (right now it’s just €5 or so).
Well, the fife is mine now, just haven’t recieved it yet.
I guess I’m gonna find out pretty soon what this “embouchure” thing is all about… 
Yeah West, that’s actually a production item from Aulos. They’re pretty nice, and it sounds like you got a good price. Have fun!