Interesting Nicholson’s Improved on eBay, for only $10,000… Check out the long F key, they must have had long fingers back then…
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230365985954&_trksid=p2759.l1259
Jon:
I see what you mean… that can’t be the original key, can it? I don’t see how it could possibly be usable… Pretty wood, but a bit rich for my blood - sure would like to toot it, though!
Pat
The seller does mention that one key is a replacement. The long F must be it.
It is now a “medium F” 
Ten thousand clams?
Does it contain the actual spirit of Nickolson inside to help you play it and ward off pub hooligans?
Haha!
This is a new scam, you get a free listing from eBay, give a huge buy it now price, as no one will buy it, so you get free advertising. When the buyer emails and says he will buy it for $2k, you sell it off eBay and save all the costs accrued by selling it on the site! EBay has not figured this out yet… 
This “scam” method of obtaining free advertising has been going on as long as eBay has been in operation. Given the risks involved in an off-eBay transaction, it’s probably an even trade-off.
I own Clementi/Nicholson Improved #2822, which I bought from an active Chiffer, who obtained it from an even more prominent Chiffer/Rudall Expert. Nicholson, as is well known, had some sort of ingrained prejudice against the long F key which I have never understood. Mine does not have one (as per his specs) making it a “7-key” flute. The short, long f on this eBay flute looks pretty weird and impractical.
Mine does have the typical flattened profile of the right hand joint, which this one does not appear to have. #2822 is in cocus wood, with handsome, coined silver mounts and has very small pewter plug keys on the foot C# and C. The distinctive ribbed turnings and head/barrel profile on the thinned headjoint appear to be very similar to those on this boxwood flute.
While our moderators frown on comments about pricing, I must say that $10k is way outside the box IMHO. I paid what I felt was a fair price, including also a modern 1-key foot in cocus by John Gallagher which addresses the flat foot syndrome. I paid under $2K about a year ago, in excellent playing condition and very good cosmetic shape overall.
All of that said, it’s a wonderful flute.
FWIW,
Herb
…you don’t think by some weird coincidence of alignment they might have the F and Bb keys on back to front? It hardly seems likely that the fulcrum to pad leverage would be the same…? Nah, I though not! It is weird though.
Hi,
Herb,
On Nicholson’s relationship with the long F key, I recall reading somewhere (Terry McGee’s site?) that N. played with the right hand section of the flute (right-handed playing) twisted a good way away from him and therefore the conventional long F was of no value to him as it couldn’t be operated in that position.
Jim
Jim,
I remember reading that as well. What I’ve never understood - given that Nicholson was such an outstanding technical player and a flute design innovator - was why he didn’t work out some other alternate left hand F mechanism. Being able to take the F with either hand is a major technical advantage, IMHO.
The touch on the “long F” does seem to be coming toward the viewer in the photo (look at the shadow). it looks like it would align with the G key. Could anyone actually close RH1 & 2 & extend over to that touch to sound an F-nat? Or even wilder idea - modified key for a left-handed player? There’s still a usable short F, and the Eb, low C & C# look doable by a left-handed pinky, and they could reach over on the higher notes with the left hand to get the top joint keys.
$10k indeed whacky for that flute, though boxwood, flamed and with ivory rings makes it desireable.
It has the right pads for the foot as Nicholson abhored the plugs (too noisy) and the Long-F. Mine (#315) has a long-F added in later by Prowse, nicely too and matching.
This one on eBay isn’t even a good match.
A good flute and cool looking, but the low D is woefully flat (mine uses a nice replacement foot that Mr. McGee made for it…it’s on his website).
At best this flute should see $3000-4000.
Shoot…Bingham has a fully-keyed lefthanded Clementi-Nicholson and that’s only for $3500! That’s even rarer.
antique treasurers (the sellers) have a knack for high-priced items.
Here’s the seller’s website. Apparently they are succeeding in selling some old flutes
at very high prices.