http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300157432146
Wow. That is one serious piece of quality kit, mind you, with high collectable antique value as well as musical. Whether that is a realistic starting price or even an achievable target I would wonder about. If it plays at a high level, then a serious pro period player might well think it worth top dollar. But that much??? Its about the same price as a mid-range family car… or, as we’ve said before, a mid range professional bassoon or cello…
The Monzani is dirt cheap by comparison:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230168685749
Indeed, but then, interesting and lovely as they are, Monzanis are not all that rare, nor especially desirable to period specialists.
Fek, if someone wants it for that price they can have it.
Jem stop encouraging them to raise the cost of old flutes!
Hope I’m not encouraging that! I’m in favour of being realistic, in both directions. No point complaining when something special is rightly highly valued and hits that value when sold. However, I don’t like to see things bid up way beyond their real worth: conversely, we all like it when we hit on a bargain other folk have missed. FWIW, other high end, high starting price flutes on eBay recently have not shifted - I’m thinking of a couple of post-Boehm types now.
For that price I wonder if he’d throw in a slightly more protective case.
Yeah. Very rare and he throws it in an old tackle box or whatever to rattle around and unwind the string and chip the ivory.
I think what you are seeing here is the value of the thing as an antique and as an object of “living history.”
I don’t really think the price is likely to be reflected in a proportionally superior sound over either other period flutes or modern flutes.
Just my $.02.
–James
Don’t suppose he mistyped that price? 
My first two houses cost less than that. Combined.
Additional Item Specifics >
Condition: Used
Sure seems like an understatement if you ask me. . . .
Oh, I don’t think this person wants to sell it on E-bay. The flute is listed so it will get traffic without incurring the commission. The listing instructs buyers to contact the seller for more detailed photos & serious enquiries.
Exactamundo. Free advert.
I haven’t yet had a chance to listen to this programme myself - just heard the trailer for it. In Business - No Strings.
It isn’t about flutes or whistles and deals with a far higher level of both finance and instrument than we do, but it is kind of relevant to some of the issues raised by this thread. It is available to listen to online for a week after being broadcast, so I guess until Thursday 11th October.
May be of interest? I’m certainly going to listen to it myself.
wow! i’m listening… it’s fascinating. i’m so glad i play the concertina and flute, both of which are not going to cost me millions!
Last chance, tooters! Come on, you know you want it. What’s another mortage in the scheme of things?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300157432146&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020