I’m still looking around for a good starter flute. This is priced right but seems to fall into the “if it’s too good to true, it usually isn’t” catagory.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7319016000&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
Can a fully restored Pratten really be had for less than $100 or is the lister trusting that the marketplace will work.
What kind of design is this? The keys look like Siccama keywork on some places, but what about those strange ring-keys on the upper part of the body? This is also not a conical flute, it reads cylindrical body with conical headjoint, like a Boehm flute?
It looks nice, but you might be better off getting a good conical mid-range flute from a contemporary maker as your first, then you can venture off to explore this kind of stuff.
Be also very careful. This flute is probably, according to the description, a high pitch that has been modified to play at 440 Hz.
I’d definitely avoid it… It is absolutely not like the Pratten flutes irish musicians play.
Nice box !
It swings both ways!
Block and pillar mounted keys !
folks, you must remember that Pratten flutes, the “perfected” models, had many many variations. The 8key model was the beginning of what eventually turned into a 17-key Boehm look-alike.
It also had a conical and cylindrical model.
They came in many different pitches, too, from an F fife (of which only 2 were made) to a Bass flute, of which about 44 were made.
Key configurations varied.
At serial #8396, it was made in 1868. Since Pratten died in February 1868, and this flute seems to have been made later that year, that’s probably why there is no signed certificate in the lid (assuming it’s the original box, which it appears to be).
Now, I’m no expert on this. I get this information from many scholarly papers and books that contained bits on the subject.
But this much is for sure: just because it says “Pratten’s Perfected” on it doesn’t make it an 8key flute!
and, yes, Andrew…it’s a wonderful looking box!
There was a high pitch conical one about a fortnight ago nobody seemed to want, including me !
This one was offered to me months ago. A njce young chap bought it thinking a Pratten is a Pratten , then spent too much having it fixed twice !
What does one do with these things ?
Thanks for the warnings. I wasn’t planning on bidding, but appreciate the information. The seller does make is sound appealling to someone (like me) not versed in what makes a good starter flute. I’m mostly playing whistles, have a Tipple and expect to get a wooded flute later this year or next. Thanks.
Nice field !