Thought that maybe there is someone that has lots of money and would like to keep three flutes intact, then go to his other items, just as well it isn’t a new one-77 Aston Martin being stripped down & sold as a kit car:-))
riversidemusic1 or 281054560797 the Item number
Good Lord, that’s dangerously close to collecting shoes. “From the Imelda Marcos footjoint collection …”
Yeah. Bizarre selling methodology! Looks as though there are at least 2 whole flutes in that lot - only two upper body joints, parts from at least 4 flutes… but they look to me fairly matchable from ring and key styles and even wood. One should be able to sort out what goes with what in the flesh, or even just with some more helpful photos. Seems to me that, lacking stamps and probably expertise, the vendor has flunked out on trying to use his/her/ eyes and common sense. But the starting prices are too high for it to be worthwhile to bid on all the lots and hope (!!!) to win the whole bundle on spec. I have challenged the vendor as to his/her thinking, 'cos frankly at those starts and in those groupings it isn’t worth anyone’s while… No response yet.
There are 4 heads (£90), 4 barrels (£80), 2 upper bodies (£70), 3 lower bodies (£90) and 3 feet (£120). The (prices) are the listed starting prices and there are no bids on any at time of writing. Why on earth has he priced the feet highest? The amount of metal on them? And why separate the barrels from the heads? Heads + barrels matched up and sold thus might attract reasonable bids… but £450 total for the whole lot when you don’t know what’ll come out of it? I don’t think so!
Still no reply from vendor, who has a couple of other lots listed - cf link to all vendor’s current listings.
The feet are probably initially priced higher for someone who’d like to salvage complex foot keys, rather than make them.
I really don’t think the violin dealer (apparently) who is the vendor knows that much about these things! If s/he knew that much, they’d know to try to match up parts and sell related parts together even if whole instruments aren’t forthcoming. Besides, as the articulated foot keys are fiddly things at the best of times and individually and uniquely fitted, they wouldn’t be all that much use to cannibalise - less so than plain keys off the other joints.
Blimey. The upper & lower bodies went for the starting prices and the feet got £147, but the heads and barrels didn’t attract any bids. the heads have been relisted at £70 start and doubtless the barrels will reappear in due course. Really weird! Even assuming there are two sets of matched parts in those, £307 + the P&P sems a lot to pay for two headless flutes and half another!