Hi there.
Im a violinist who recieved an old wooden flute from my grandma a year ago, probably because I'm musical. I have been teaching myself recorder (its the holidays, I'm getting sick of my violin pieces) and remembered that i had it wrapped up in my chest.
can anybody please give me some advice. I can get something of a noise out if it (it has a crack near the mouthpiece, but this doesn't effect the tone too badly.) any advice for playing, like easier breathing. and would anybody know how much it would cost to get a new cork seal, as it is missing its one and i don't really want to play it until it could be fixed. also any maintenance advice. it probably came over to nz about 100 years ago from scotland and hasn't been played in a very long while.
it is a six holed eight keyed wooden flute.

thanks very much

Thanks for the quick reply!
the cracks are only in the part that has the mouth piece and this appears to be metal lined underneath the wood. is this weird? there are no other cracks in rest of the flute, which is unlined.
i have not attempeted to take the flute fully apart, the second joint is rather stiff and i fear breaking it. i wouldn't have a clue if the pads need replacing or not, i would say that everything on the flute is as original and apart from the cracks (im guessing due to temp change and humidity) its in suprisingly good nick. the silver needs a polish because its green but other then that... its alright, to me anyway.
i would send it to you but i am on a very tight budget and i live in NZ. (i have no idea where you are, obviously.) i thought of asking at my local (actually not so bad) music store if they knew of a flute repairer or expert in the area (which i doubt) or of one in NZ.

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twenty dollars doesn't seem so bad for a repair, thats if there isn't quite a bit more damage done at the same time. i might be able to get it fixed yet! (going to uni (college), so personal funds : almost nil!)

You may want to ask the Chiff & Fipple flute forum members about your flute.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?f=2

The C&F forum focuses on non-Boehm type & wooden flutes.

You have one of the notorious member technician in this forum living in your country (without any offence to other member technicians). I prefer not to mention directly for privacy reasons, but probably you will get some feedback from this member