Is anybody claiming the keyed Wilkes flute on eBay? Any guesses what it will get?
This: “Wilkes, Worcester” probably means an older flute. Does anybody know for sure? If it’s early on in his flute-making career it might not be a flute you’d want to wait seven years for.
I don’t want to throw a wet blanket over somebody’s auction but this might not be the buy of the century coming up. You want a flute with the Herefordshire imprimateur.
I think that’s imprimatur. Latin rather than French. 
I was just going to add that while I’m in Texas, I have not seen the flute in question.
I do wonder what it’ll fetch, though. A gentlemanly pool with no pot? I’d say $1800.
Stuart
I have a keyed Bb flute marked with Worcester…
and it’s terrific.
I also have the other…in D…
and it’s equally terrific.
For what it’s worth.
dm
Scoop Migoya,
Pray tell, do you know the period in question when flutes with this stamp were produced? The implicatioin from Cocus Flute is Wilkes’‘s workmanship improved after his change of domicile (Stu do I have the Latin correct?). Not sure I buy Cocus’ hypothesis.
Big T
I just took what Cocus said to mean that a Worcester mark means that the flute’s from very early in Chris’s career.
The only inference I made is that Chris, like a fine wine, has grown better with time.
Domicile is right but French. 
Stuart
Stu understood what I meant. Chris himself thinks his later work is better. Why wouldn’t it be?
I am not saying that the Worcester mark means anything other than that it precedes the Herefordshire mark. It is not the mark of a necessarily inferior flute. It could mark earlier work - not necessarily inferior work. I would also say, though, that the Herefordshire imprimatur (gee, I even looked it up) is the mark of a great flute.
I think the market can bear $3K on a flute like this given a. that it is keyed and b. how much a keyless went for a year or so ago. My official guess though is $2,400.
Oh, gosh, you’re right. Keyed. I was thinking keyless.
Keyed Wilkes, even early? $3K.
Stuart
I don’t know what Chris is charging currently, but I’d have thought one might expect to pay at least c£2K ($4K) for one of his flutes second hand? Given that a good condition period R&R should be in the £3K ($6K) region, that his flutes play as well or better than genuine R&Rs, and the length of his waiting list!!! If I had £2k, I’d pay that for one of his… If anyone gets it for less, they’ll be getting a stunning bargain!
The magic words…
M 
(I’m sure the seller is thanking y’all right about now… )
And the winner is…
somebody we know 
Congratulations!
M