Pre 1940's William Haynes flute worth?

[Klimenski1]

Hi there,

I've found this flute in the loft and did some research. It appears to be a professional concert flute with the head and body made of solid silver marked with maker of William Haynes. The box appears to be original and it's in very good condition. I'm sure it's pre 1940's. I'm not a musician and am planning on selling it on. How much is it worth and how much should a sell it for and to whom?

Many thanks guys

[pied_piper]

It's really not possible to provide a value for the flute without seeing it and knowing more about it. Haynes made different models over the years and it's nearly impossible for anyone to tell you which one you have. The various models (i.e. handmade, soldered or rolled tone holes, commercial model) all have different values. You could contact the Haynes flute company and if you provide them the serial number they can tell you what year it was made and the particular model. Also, the condition of the flute will greatly affect its value. If it has been sitting in a loft for decades, it will certainly need to be serviced. At a minimum, it will need a clean, oil, and adjust (COA) but it is likely to need a complete repad and on professional model flutes that can run anywhere from about $500 to well over $1000 depending upon the type of pads.

So, you would have to decide if you want to have it serviced and then sell it to maximize its value or sell it as-is for a much lower price. Used Haynes flutes that have been serviced and/or repadded can start at perhaps $800-1500 and up. Handmade models with soldered tone holes are worth even more and can sell for several thousand dollars. Again, I'd suggest contacting Haynes to find out exactly what you have.