Patrick Olwell copy of Chris Norman’s 1836 Rudall & Rose Classical flute, natural European Boxwood, key-less D version, 1995. Flute’s in Kyoto.
4 days left to go
Item number: 200733231075
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws-Patrick-Olwell-copy-of-Chris-Normans-Rudall-Rose-natural-boxwood-no-key-/200733231075?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebca207e3#ht_1367wt_881
I am just astonished that the Olwell has not been sold
Any ideas why? Is it because of the lack of a tuning slide or thats this a keyless?
That’s because he said that low D doesn’t bark, and also the youtube video is not good, too much sound effects added, it seems like he wants to cover a not so brilliant playing.
I think you’re right, but he also said that he is only able to fill the flute half and because of this I think the flute can not bark on D…
Wow, harsh.
I bought a flute from one of his other auctions, very very good. He explains how he can’t play flutes like these anymore. He’s not trying to cover anything up.
There were bids, so a few people definitely wanted it, but they did not reach the Seller’s Reserve price. If the reserve was lower, it might have sold this time around. I don’t know what the current price is for a similar model, but from an older Olwell price list this already received a premium for immediate availability. However, what do I know? It’s been re-listed at a $3,000 Buy It Now (with Best Offer solicited)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200739294636
Also, the flute is in Japan, with an additional $60 for shipping, so the location could be a factor limiting interest.
Could be the recession is affecting the sale of modern flutes now? I doubt it will sell at that price, 3000 USD when a new Olwell keyless with slide goes for 14/1500 USD and maybe a year wait. The only keyless flutes I know of that have sold for 3000 USD have been Wilkes’ with tuning slides, as they are seemingly as rare as hens teeth 
I’m sure it’s a fine flute though, but you have to be a bit realistic as regards pricing, especially these days.
Right. the seller wants too much money. I believe the new price for an Olwell boxwood nicholson sans
tuning slide is about 900. Not so clear that you can actually use the seller’s flute for ITM.
Hi there,
my pricelist from Olwell dated March 2011 says
Keyless 3-Section, All Wood Flute (no tuning slide or silver rings) $ 950
Boxwood add 100 $
A new one must be 1050$ unless the price for a 4-section keyless is a little bit higher. The current waiting period for a keyless flute is aboust 1 year from receipt of deposit…
It is an extremely beautiful flute, but would not the fact that it was built as a prototype tend to drive interest down a little too? Or is that style flute now in the “Olwell catalogue.” Just wondering. And while I’m wondering did I really read the words “Wilkes” “keyless” “tuning slide” and “$3000” in one sentence? What if, hypothetically, “boxwood” was inserted into that description?
I find the words blackwood or cocuswood more attrractive that boxwood…
Oops. Didn’t mean to start a tone woods discussion. I know opinions on this vary considerably and sometimes quite emphatically. I like blackwood too and think cocus is beautiful, but fear my allergies might object to me touching it too much. Its just that the only Wilkes I’ve ever seen is made of boxwood…In fact, I’m going to go play it now. 
Thank you. I bought a used slideless boxwood Olwell several years ago for 800, and I was triangulating upward but
not far enough.
I believe these flutes have not been terribly in demand. I sold the flute for the price I paid. It was soon sold
again on the board, after a long wait, for 900, as I recall. This was a Nicholson, which is of course
OK for ITM. It is less likely that the seller’s flute is suited to ITM.
I don’t think the seller’s flute will sell quickly for more than the price of a new Nicholson
model. Also the wait is not prohibitive.
The justifiable magic of the ‘Olwell’ name doesn’t extend so far as to cover this flute, IMO.
I’ve heard from a few different sources that Patrick doesn’t really care for people reselling his flutes at a steep markup. I believe I’ve also heard that when people do this, and he finds out about it (and he does), he will no longer do business with that individual.
So kudos to you, Jim, for selling the flute for the price you paid for it. I think that recently, someone sold a boxwood Olwell at an extremely inflated price, which is disappointing. If you’re really after an Olwell, do yourself, and Mr. Olwell, a favor and order directly from the man himself. Besides, waiting builds character, or something.
Thank you. Certainly I believe that buying a flute directly from Patrick and selling it quickly for a higher price
can have serious repercussions for further business with The Maestro.
Of course the seller isn’t doing anything like that. I expect he is chiefly being unrealistic.
$3K seems a little stiff for this tube.
If this is really a prototype, I would shy away from it. I played an exact (within reason) copy of the CN flute in Patrick’s shop a few years ago. This was a warts and all copy, complete with the era’s tuning features. The scale of the flutes he now sells is somewhat different from the original to reflect modern tuning sensibilities. I suspect such is the case with this flute, since Patrick sold it.
Jim, Olwell Rudall-style flutes in boxwood are fine for Irish playing. Several players of some repute have played mine (slide, unlined head) and been favorably impressed.
Right about Olwell Rudalls–at least I have no info to the contrary and I believe what you say.
I had in mind the seller’s particular flute, the details he gives about weak notes, and the
things you are saying in the first paragraph of your message, immediately above.
There are no weak notes. Only weak players.
Makes sense, but the people who didn’t bid on the flute may not have known it.
The seller goes on about features of the particular flute that make it sound
iffy, whatever they amount to really.
‘Those notes were always iffy on the one-keyed Baroque flutes, and more usable due to the single key which this flute does not have.’
Bit of an exercise in how not to sell a flute.