I’m not selling this flute but I’m curious as to the value of what i have.
It’s an 8 keyed flute made by Croger some time between 1839 and 1845 in London.
I don’t know for definite but I’d guess thats it a copy of the Rudall and Rose model of it’s day. It plays well.
It has a few repaired cracks which is not unusual for something of its vintage and all of the keys are nickle silver, intact and working.
Can anyone advise me as to the value of what I may have.
A rough guess. The main reason I’m asking is that a student of mine was is interested in moving up to a fully keyed flute form a unkeyed flute.
She knows a newly made one can cost well over $2000 but can’t understand why a 160 year old flute would cost upwards of $1000 and maybe more. “Why aren’t old ones cheap…”
I suppose I’m calling for back up on this one…
I may try to post some pictures of it on my web site later today so you’ll have a better idea of what I’m talking about.
Why aren’t antiquities cheap? Because they are rare artifacts most of the time. Modern flutes are often copies of the old ones and many pro players prefer to play the old stuff, “the real deal” you might call it.
Concerning the value of this one. I have no idea. I know pretty much nothing of antique flutes. Someone will probably be able to answer this. Too bad one of the chief experts of this, AndrewK, was driven away from the board by Dale.
Of course, you can have your crappy, old table that looks like an antique, but closer inspection from a trained professional would reveal construction methods and a quality of materials to be that of something much newer (and less valuable) and just not well taken care of.
Basically, the cost reflects the demand and the fact that many professional players play antiques is a testament to their enduring quality (of the better makers of the time). There is also a reason most modern makers use the finer antique flutes as models for their own work - they’re instruments of exceedingly high quality (when in good shape).
a flute is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it.
that said…
doesn’t matter so much WHEN it was made as BY WHOM (or whose mark).
A Rudall will garner far more than a Wylde, even though the latter made flutes for the former. Large-hole Rudalls typically (not always) get more than medium/small-hole models.
Prattens often will get as much or more than Rudalls because there are fewer of the 8key variety. Hudson’s even more since they are the original Pratten Perfected and thus far only 5 or 6 are known to exist (legitimate ones, that is).
So now it’s a matter of condition, material and playability.
Croger? May have been a force in his day, maybe even with great flutes…but unknown by most today.
So lest there is a market for it (which is created by a unique collectibility aspect …such as the original Pratten-Perfected flutes, or the earliest Rudall or something such…or a musical free-for-all by players, as Molloy created when he flipped to Boosey-Pratten flutes from his Rudall) the relative sale price is likely to remain low.
So based on what you’ve offered…and this is certainly not gospel, but a guideline…I likely wouldn’t pay more than $1,500 for your flute in perfect condition (all keys perfectly operational, no evidence of any crack…ready to play and the keys are shiney).
For what it’s worth.
If it is certainly a Rudall “replica” which someone of the day made, you’d be hardpressed to make the case without measurements and some other method to make the claim. I have an Atwill that is an exceptional 1832 copy of a Rudall of the day, in nearly every respect (the foot keys are pads, not plugs). So that gets a bit more money.
But when all is said/done…it’s really what the buyer is willing to pay…and what the seller is willing to accept…that sets the value.
To add to David’s excellent post, it’s important to remember that in every era there were some completely gawdawful instruments made. This doesn’t apply to your flute, but it certainly makes life interesting for Ebay bottomfeeders like me.
