Kara Ugggh,
The Early music part of my brain has gone dormant for a few years as I didn't need to remember these things.
So, my mistake........ the general early pitch that is more often used in making of a fair amount of recorders and other instruments is A=415. This would put your F fingering at the sound of a modern E.
Some early instruments however do go down to A=395.
From:
http://www.uwm.edu/~jmbowers/powellflute.html
"The pitch of early baroque flutes also differed, ranging from about a’=395 to a’=408, although from around 1715 attempts were made to establish a German standard pitch of a’=c410."
One of the standard quality wood Recorder companys for some time now is the Moeck Company. I would say that they are known for a rather high degree of consistent quality in their wood reproductions. But there have been many companys making some pretty good recorders since the Early Music Revival of the mid 60's and some of them have died out as time takes it's toll.
Here's a US store that sells the Moeck line.
http://www.susato.com/moeckrecorders.html
The instruemnt that I have is Roessler Oberlender which I bought around 1983 for about $325 (It's easily worth twice that now.)
Most instrument companys would have placed their name underneath the windway area on the head joint. The fact that your alto has no name is unusual or it may be an indication of it's quality -just like a modern flute company would be. but not necessarily always. and believe me that I'm not slamming it. The real questions would be:
How does it play?
What type or color wood is your Alto? Is the wood dense in that the grain allows the surface to be fairly smooth?
Are the inside and the finger holes finished to a fair amount of smoothness? IS the tone and tuning consistent throughout.
These things may be an indication of quality.
Then look carefully at the wood for cracks /splits. Ends of the pieces, between the holes & around the working end like the windway and labium (the edge where the airstream is "cut"). Does the wood look dried out? IS the thumb hole 'carved out" from the owner playingthe half-hole with their thumb nail?
Is there gunk filling the windway?
this would be an indication of condition.
Another company's web site:
http://www.aswltd.com/guiderec.htm
So if you find out the brand & do some research on used instruments, you can see that if your recorder is of a reputable brand it's possibly worth some money.
BTW: Some people use Almond oil for oiling the bore. I've used raw linseed oil for my alto for many years and luckily it and my Bigio flute have maintained pretty well.
I would also moderate the amount of use for some time, and gradually reintroduce the wood to breath humidity if you intend to play it. On mine, I play in 15 min sessions or less for a week then maybe a bit more.
An A=440 instrument might be slightly easier to play for your fingers but If you work at it, they might stretch out and cover the holes with time anyway.
I'm not an expert anymore. I almost went int the early music scene once whole hog as the tone of wood flutes is kind of addictive & more relaxing for my ears. and the Traverso demands much less effort for a good tone. As an example, I used to practice the Anderson studies on my 1 key a few decades ago.
