A must in any Kitsch and/or Art-Drecko collection.
The pitch text alone deserves framing…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3713040731&category=10183
With sic tin keys (sic). Was once one of the most popular instruments in the European renaisance (sic).
Looks like some wierd smoking device- a ‘SchnabelBONG’?? 
Food for thoughts: Abell makes whistles AND keyed flutes too…
Schnee-Abell?
Weird!
I think it’s supposed to say “six tin keys” 
yikes, a recorder on steroids?
Wow, far out! I’m impressed. Took heavy stuff to dig it?
Now, Ô Master of the Cypher, before you go down, whatdya make of Schnabel?
Is the book in the background supposed to validate this piece? Looks more like a keyed East Indian snake charmer to me!
That was my first (and second) impression, also. Then there’s the self-evident (to me, anyway) point that with a mere six holes, it’s no recorder. And if it’s a fillpe flute of any kind, where’s the mouthpiece? And the wood appears to be cracked.
From what’s shown there. I’d even have to wonder if it’s playable in even the loosest sense.
I think it’s only one part of a larger instrument. Those six keys look big enough to be toe peddles 
MarkB
Or ever at all! Hey, just think of it this way:
eBay at its best (or worst?)
Hmm… wierd. 
closed-hole system?
I wonder if it isn’t some free-reed stuff–sorta Boehm mouth harmonica.
Or Jurassic Melodica, if you see what I’m trying to picture (“the horror…” [Ah Pukah Lips Narrow])
It may not be the perfect thing for Europeeing Renuisance, but for Baroque & Roll… 
And how about this post-modernist design?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3712537735&category=10183
“IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE FROM THE PICTURE HOW GOOD IT IS. IT LOOKS AFRICAN.”
Only 14 hours to go and it’s only a fiver so far!! 
What the “hail”? Perhaps another prop to hold open the oven door while your cake is cooling. Although the bong idea has merit, as well.
As Mr. PT Barnum said over a century ago - “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Notice how the seller doesn’t show the whole whistle except waaaayyy down at the bottom of the page? Its because if anyone saw the whole thing even a sucker would flee in terror. Its nothing more than a one buck bamboo whistle spray painted black and wrapped with wire. These ‘pagan/wiccan’ ripoffs are always on eBay. If it is in tune, or even in a recognizable key, I would be flat out amazed.
I don’t know what the conversion rate is, but I need to make sure these folks see the next whistle I decide to sell.
Chuck, you sure it isn’t a garden hose?
Hmm… this gives me an idea, with April approaching. 
It looks like it was made for six fingers on the same hand…
Holy smokes the garden hose went for the best part of $25 US!