RRC on ebay

[radcliff]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170735696621
nice one for ITM...

[LorenzoFlute]

Is it cocuswood? The colour looks very light...

[yellowhistler]

I'd say it's cocus. And by the looks of things it hasn't been handled much or the shellac/french polish would be more worn off and the wood be darker. Only fix needed for that one might be a new spring for the C# key, unless it's the block pinching the key, in which case some light scraping of the key way will do. Some cleaning, new thread for the joints, oiling and a re-pad and it's good to go! The keys seem to be nickel silver, but the rings could be sterling...?

[yellowhistler]

Looking a bit closer the keys are likely sterling as well...

[benhall.1]

I dunno. I thought they looked GS to me. I was worried about the fact that you can;t see the embouchure hole. I've sent a message through eBay asking for a pic of the embouchure hole, but with no response ...

[RudallRose]

i'm not so worried about the embouchure. the seller clearly notes there are no cracks or splits.
I'd want to see a photo of the slide separated to ensure it's not frozen.

I don't think these are GS keys, although the late serial number says it could be.
the indicator of silver keys, i believe, is the foot key set up. The "claw" interlock is usually in sterling. I can't say i've seen it in GS (thought i might be wrong, but i just don't recall it). Usually the GS keys are overlapping touches on the foot keys.

Nice looking flute.
the late serial number would indicate an improved bore in good shape for modern 440 pitch play.
fyi....i will not be bidding.

[paddler]

You guys seem to be quite good at predicting the final sale price on these flutes. Do you have any estimates on how much this one is likely to go for in the end? I'm seriously considering taking a shot at it. Thanks! Jon

[plunk111]

I already took two shots at it just for fun!

[Steampacket]

"Do you have any estimates on how much this one is likely to go for in the end? I'm seriously considering taking a shot at it. Thanks! Jon"

2400-2600 Sterling

[Jon C.]

I'd say it's cocus. And by the looks of things it hasn't been handled much or the shellac/french polish would be more worn off and the wood be darker. Only fix needed for that one might be a new spring for the C# key, unless it's the block pinching the key, in which case some light scraping of the key way will do. Some cleaning, new thread for the joints, oiling and a re-pad and it's good to go! The keys seem to be nickel silver, but the rings could be sterling...?

Can't say ever saw a Rudall that had a shellac finish... This is the color of true Cocuswood, unless it is acid stained. It will darken slightly over time. The majority of antique flutes were not made from Cocus, but another type of cheaper ebony, that would get quite dark.
Looks like it will bea great flute for someone, probably well for about $3,500-$4,000 is my guess.

[jim stone]

I didn't know any of these had only three sections.

[kkrell]

I didn't know any of these had only three sections.

You might want to count again, Jim (hint: look for the rings).

[yellowhistler]

Can't say ever saw a Rudall that had a shellac finish... This is the color of true Cocuswood, unless it is acid stained. It will darken slightly over time. The majority of antique flutes were not made from Cocus, but another type of cheaper ebony, that would get quite dark.

I'm talking from experience with cheaper cocus flutes so you may be right. Since Hammy Hamilton re-french polished the head on the ornate Rudall #859 a few threads down I figured it occured on Rudalls as well. What type of finish do they usually have? Linseed oil?

[jemtheflute]

Since Hammy Hamilton re-french polished the head on the ornate Rudall #859 a few threads down I figured it occurred on Rudalls as well. What type of finish do they usually have? Linseed oil?

I can't claim to "know" what R&R did to finish their flutes, but from the bit of working cocus I have done, it does not appear to me to need any surface finish, nor, on close examination, do most cocus flutes show any sign (to my non-expert, non-cabinet-maker trained eyes) of applied surface finishes. The wood itself is very waxy - often described as "buttery", and if you surface finish to a very fine level of abrasive and then burnish up the surface with leather or cloth (or, I'm sure Jon C may chip in, buffing wheels with suitable softness), it comes to a pretty good polish untreated. If you get oil on it in the process of oiling the bore, sure, that glosses it up even more, as does application and burnishing of a waxy polish (e.g. Renaissance Wax or a furniture polish), but I don't think it is actually necessary. I suspect that Rose's famous polished bores may represent the nature of the timber in similar fashion rather than any special applied substances.

As for estimates, not that long ago a flute like this would have been pretty assured of a price in the £3-3.5k region and I think I have a record (no time to check now) of a fairly similar one which went over £4k 4 or 5 years back.... and I'd like (and wouldn't be astonished) to see it get £3k +. But in the current market, I wouldn't be surprised if this went for between £1.8-2.5k.

FWIW, certainly at first inspection I thought the keys looked to be GS, but I know from experience how hard it can be to tell from online photos, and like David, I suspect the claw foot keys may make sterling a higher probability - I can't recall seeing them in GS either.

@ Jim - the period flute cases always (that I have seen) store these flutes with the lower body and foot joints assembled. It is normal.

[jim stone]

I didn't know any of these had only three sections.

You might want to count again, Jim (hint: look for the rings).

Thanks. The ad says the flute is three piece and I couldn't spot the ring tween
the footjoint and the rest, but now I do.