Hi all,
I am looking out for a Wilkes Rudall type flute. Perhaps some-one wants to part with one? Thanks for looking!
Ron
seems to be an expensive desire…
just show us some photos if you get one…
Most owners of Chris Wilkes flutes hang on to them and it’s not very often they come up for sale on the second hand market as is the case with other makers instruments such as Hamilton, Copley, McGee, Burns for example. Your best bet would be to order a keyless D flute from Chris and play some other makers flute during the waiting period.
Here’s an article about Mr Wilkes from 2003:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article1072264.ece
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the wait for a keyless Wilkes flute is just as long as the wait for a fully keyed one, around 10 years? Mr. Wilkes seems very particular about his first come first served policy, no matter what kind of flute you order or who you are. That might be the reason why keyless Wilkes flutes seem pretty rare. However, I have seen one for immediate sale on Wilkes website once, that was when someone had ordered a pin mounted flute and changed his mind and wanted a block mounted one at the last minute. So it might be worth keeping an eye open there, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Good luck anyway Bodhro. That and patience is just what you need.
And maybe it would also help if you got some
whisky 
Having read the timesonline article which was short but very interesteing, I knew nothing about Chris Wilkes other than his flutes are very beautiful and sort after, I am guessing that trying to find a used flute by Chris Wilkes would be a long long journey???. I particularly liked the bit about top players trying to entice Mr Wilkes to re-arrange his waiting list, it just goes to show money really can’t by you everything.
but good luck with the search
songe 
From what I understand 10 years is for a keyed flute. Chris’ keyless flutes are/were made in batches last I heard. Best to contact Chris himself to get concrete up-to-date information regarding waiting lists for keyless flutes and pricing. Bodhro, If you are new to flute playing then a few years playing would stand you in good stead before attemping a Wilkes
I’d love to try a Wilkes. The only “top maker” flute I didn’t manage to try so far. But for some reason virtually nobody here in Germany plays one. I’m aware of an Eb somewhere a few hundred kilometers away, and I heard that Colin Goldie of Overton Whistles plays one. But no more!
Good luck with finding one. And if you really make it, give us some photos!
Hi Bodhro -
I played an 8 key Wilkes Rudall flute from circa 1994/1995 last night at a session, and the owner of which is currently offering it for sale. PM me if you’d like to be in touch with the owner.
Well there you go, a keyed Wilkes up for sale!!! Doesn’t happen every day - go for it 
Liney Bear,
Did it look something like this one? Thanks for the plug.
http://flagstaff-itm-session.googlegroups.com/web/Wilkes%20in%20case.jpg
http://flagstaff-itm-session.googlegroups.com/web/Wilkes%20foot%20end%20stamp.jpg
[Edited links to super-size photos. - MTGuru / Mod]
Oh my… that is lovely ain’t it?
Yeah, I believe that was the one. 
That’s the most BEAUTIFUL flute I’ve ever seen in my life..
Snif Snif… 
Gabriel, if you ever want to try mine come along, I have an 8 key D flute with a Eb body both of which are incredible. I just wish I could do them the justice they deserve. You are less than a couple of hours drive away so it is not so far or maybe I let you know next time I am in Münster as I have been up there a few times in the last couple of years for rehearsing, playing and recording. Which reminds me I never did get a copy of an album I guested on there which was to be only released in Iraq and Iran…
Ron, good luck with your hunting. They are incredible flutes, mine was second hand and the original owner sold it because of getting a different Wilkes model. It is a flute I will quite happily grow old with as it suits my style and what I want from a flute and the same reaction with nearly everybody who has tried it.
Another tremendous craftsman, making a different kind of wind instrument: http://www.briggsaccordions.com/home.html
I remember being told that he built boxes in his shed. prehaps he still does They are great sounding instruments 
Doug is a friend of Chris so there’s the connection and both make top quality instruments. Waiting list, well you’re talking years of course, last I heard he was only making one or two boxes a year
And of course, Doug is a mate of Chris’s! His boxes are wonderul to listen to - I can’t speak for them as a player though, obviously! Doug’s no slouch as a player himself either.
Apparantly there is an interview with both Chris Wilkes and Doug Briggs in the Welsh folk music magasine “Taplas”. I’ve looked at their site (archives page) and also the back issues they have for sale, but didn’t see any mention of their names: http://www.taplas.co.uk/archive.html
Steampacket - there was indeed such an article (not a huge one - it was a secondary feature piece as I recall)… quite a few years ago though, and likely in an older issue than the ones available in the on-line archive??? I have a complete set of Taplas from the very first one and have got the relevant one - but it may take a while going through them to find it. I’ll try to find and scan it and post it here, though it will be rather out-of-date by now! Taplas is now inthe 150s of issues! I sell a few locally as well as being a subscriber. The founding and long-serving editor (now retired from that role) was a friend and a neighbour of mine (a few streets away) when I lived in Cardiff. I write occasional CD and book reviews for the mag and have done so since the early years. It does not deal only with Welsh music, but with all trad music and related activities within Wales and the Marches (the counties either side of the border with England).
That would be great jemthe flute - no hurry. I can´t be alone in appreciating, in this day and age, that people such as Chris Wilkes, Douggie Briggs, Geoff Wooff, Pat Olwell, Sam Murray, to name just some, have dedicated themselves to making musical instruments of such fine quality. Here´s to their health and wellbeing
I have a keyless Wilkes flute in D I bought a few years ago but I’ve never played it in anger. I’m not sure whether this is a ‘Rudall’ model or not, but it has four sections and it’s as new. Any advice please on what it might be worth or where I might sell it?