I recently pulled my old flute out of storage and I'm wanting to sell it on eBay, only problem is I don't know if it's nickel or silver, on that it says on it, is Selmer 1206 with a serial number, If anyone can help me determine what kind it is before I post it up just for nickel let me know please and ASAP.

-tarah

HI
There is a pretty easy way, one way is to look at the headjoint and see if it is a different color toward the end that fits into the body, if it is a different color, it is silver plated..also, hold the body of the flute toward the top and tap a finger on the body, if you hear and feel a ringing, it is silver plated, if there is a dull thump, chances are it is silver, u

usually, a silver flute has a marking that it is silver...

micron if you heat it up won't if effect the metal and the pads on the flute??

to be honest i would just research it on the internet or if it is a student model then chances are its silver/nickel plated

Sorry for the 'devil's advocate' but,

"Another test, which needs some experience, is to heat part of the body over a flame. Silver is a far better conductor of heat than "nickel-silver", so the heat spreads through the metal far faster"

If we heat it up what is considered fast and what is faster? I heated my brothers flute up this morning and it got hot fast but I don't know how fast,whether it was silver fast or just nickle-silver fast.

Well,as micron clearly said, experience is needed. I wouldn't heat my flute for that test, I do not have enough experience and it would be a useless risk.

And I suppose that the owner could contact Selmer to find out...

I remember a test for metals that a jewel manufacturer I knew many years ago used to check if a piece was gold or some other metal (it cannot be used on flutes unless the cork is taken out, not much of a problem) but could be used fot the headjoint (without cork):

1.- the piece is carefully weighted with a precision scale (jewel makers do have those expensive things)
2.- the piece is completely immersed in water and the volume of water displaced is measured (you need a graduated container or (less reliable), a full container and the spilled water is carefully measured after immersion).
3.- the material density is computed as weight over volume and compared in tables with the candidate materials.

I am not sure whether sterling silver and nickel plated differ enough in density, they probably do.

If someone tries this method please post the results here.


<Added>

Obviously the test should not be performed on the body or foot, unless all the key/pads are taken out...

Another way to check silver vs. nickel plate is to take a fresh rubber band and wrap it around some part of the flute...leave it overnite. If it is silver plate, the sulfur in the rubber band will cause it to rapidly tarnish, if nickel plate, it will be unchanged. The tarnish will polish right out with any mild silver cleaner (I use the Hagerty's products.