PLEASE CONTACT US TO BUY A FLUTE. We regularly ship to Germany, Italy, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, etc.

Recent sales include:

Rudall & Rose 1832 conical ring key, early example with Dorus G sharp, cocus with silver mechanism

Rudall Carte one-piece thinned-throughout cocus with silver mechanism made c1955

Rudall Carte 'American' model cocus with silver mechanism made in 1883

Rudall Carte cocus with silver mechanism made in 1907

Flutemakers Guild silver piccolo to C

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RUDALL CARTE & Co oversaw the finest flutemaking workshop. Their London premises at 23 Berners Street attracted the best European craftsmen. Flutes made during the 80 years before that workshop closed in 1958 remain the gold-standard of wooden flutes. Many, having been restored or overhauled, are still in use today. Their owners are custodians of these marvellous flutes, enjoying them whilst looking after them for future generations.

This early R&R boxwood flute with its small tone holes plays sweetly and warmly on recently installed pads. Having a short Eb foot makes it light and well-balanced, and it feels like a instrument that likes being played.

The flute was probably made around 1830.  Its set of four matching silver keys are of slightly different design from those seen on later flutes, but which were sometimes fitted to these early ones. The keys and blocks are undamaged. There is a repaired hairline crack in the barrel, and four fine repaired hairlines in the lined headjoint, none through the embouchure hole and not affecting playing. The crown is a modern replacement. The flute plays at A=440 with the tuning slide slightly out.

Players and collectors will know that boxwood R&Rs are relatively rare, and this early example particularly so. It is a flute to be used and enjoyed.

This unique Rudall Carte was rebuilt probably in the 1960s by one of the experienced craftsmen who had to find his own way after the original workshop closed in 1958. The workmanship is superb, with the Carte mechanism adapted and fitted to a new cocuswood body. In doing the job the flutemaker added an elegant pinless right hand mechanism.

The flute is in excellent condition+ and plays beautifully, combining the character of a classic Rudall Carte with the advantages of a modern rebuild. The silver-lined headjoint gives lots of colour and good articulation. The flute plays easily at A=440. We undertook a repad just two years ago, and have just serviced the flute ready for sale. It comes in a new bespoke case made by Chris Raven. 

This high pitch Rudall Carte is in such lovely original condition that we couldn't resist offering it for sale for its owner. The inscription is still crisp and the flute is in excellent condition. In playing order, the flute would benefit from a service (clean, oil, & regulate). Pads are old but serviceable. The unlined headjoint gives a lovely rich and clear sound.

This high pitch Rudall Carte is in such lovely original condition that we couldn't resist offering it for sale for its owner. The inscription is still crisp and the flute is in excellent condition. In playing order, the flute would benefit from a service (clean, oil, & regulate). Pads are old but serviceable. The unlined headjoint gives a lovely rich and clear sound.

This unusual Rudall Carte, though made at high pitch, has been used for many years by the present owner with a specially-made headjoint that is longer than usual, with a nice collar of similar length. This brings the pitch down, allowing the flute to be played with other modern instruments, while the owner has mastered the difference this makes to intonation.

This well-made piccolo dates from the 1960s. It uses a lovely piece of cocuswood, with beautiful grain. The piccolo is complete and original and, not having been played for a while, needs a good service to bring it up to good playing order. The Piddock silver-lined headjoint is particularly attractive. Comes in its original case.

WOODEN FLUTES by Louis Lot, Thomas Prowse, and other great makers

With its original maker's mark, this is a genuine Isidor Lot flute from before 1886 (afterwards the name was acquired by the Couesnon factory, which stamped it on thousands of lower-quality instruments). It is beautifully made and plays well up to pitch at A=435. Condition is very good, with no damage to body or foot. The headjoint has a crack, away from the embouchure hole, that has received the benefit of a substantial pinned repair (see photo).

Isidor Lot was born in 1832, nephew to the great Louis Lot who seems to have helped him in his early days as a flutemaker. This example plays very well, having recently been repadded. We have made some adjustments so that it is easy under the fingers. The flute sings as one would expect with a sweet lyrical voice. It comes in its original case with turned grease pot.

This delightful Louis Lot flute is in excellent playing condition. That Louis Lot continued to produce these flutes in the 1890s shows there was still a demand for the lightness and immediacy of Boehm's original 1832 design. This flute retains the teardrop Eb touchpiece and adds a RH1 long Bb. The silver-plated mechanism has a robust feel even as it appears delicate. All toneholes are intact and there are no cracks apart from a repaired hairline in the head away from the embouchure hole. The flute has been recently overhauled and fitted with soft leather pads. Altogether a piece of stylish Parisian magic!

This lovely Louis Lot piccolo comes with a receipt for its sale in 1901, for the sum of £4/4/- (four guineas). It plays very nicely. At some point it was converted to open G sharp, but the original key was left in place so the conversion back to closed G sharp would be straight-forward. The piccolo is in good playing order.

This remarkable alto flute, with corps do rechange for A and Bb, was commissioned by the present owner from George Ormiston in 2006, and bears Edinburgh hallmarks for that year. It is beautifully crafted and is rich and sonorous. We have adjusted the padding and prepared it for sale.

Thomas Prowse was one of the most colourful flutemakers in early-Victorian London, with a penchant for vociferous self-promotion. This lovely instrument, however, needs no hyperbole, for it is simply an excellent example of an 8-key flute of that era. The wood has a lovely grain and no cracks. All blocks are whole and original. The keys are also complete and original. Fitted with modern pads, the flute plays with a big voice at A=440 with the tuning slide out about 13mm.

This lovely flute by John Simpson is offered in excellent condition and good playing order, having been restored by Hammy Hamilton. Plays at A=440 with tuning slide out around 12mm. Simpson operated from this address at 266 Regent Street from around 1830 until his death in 1869. His flutes are of the highest quality.

This unmarked French conical ring-key flute is beautifully made and in excellent condition. The embouchure hole is original and unmolested. There are no cracks in body and foot. The headjoint has a repaired hairline not near the embouchure hole. Having recently been repadded, and after some adjusting on our workbench, the flute plays beautifully. Pitch is A=435. It comes in a fine bespoke modern wooden box.

We are offering this flute for sale simply because it is so well made and is complete and original, including the two tenon caps. A. Wunderlich was a member of a family of woodwind makers and his flutes are rare but of the highest handmade quality. This example has no damage and plays easily with a warm voice. The headjoint, with its ebonite bushed embouchure, is particularly good. When played with one of our Haswell headjoints the flute plays easily up to pitch - and really sings!

Please  contact us if you require more information or wish to purchase a flute.

We will send you an invoice with details of how to pay by bank transfer, IBAN, etc.

Selling your flute

Find out more about Selling Your Flute.