Haynes 1943 Solid Silver Flute – Serial 17825 – Excellent Player, Beautiful Wartime Era Piece

This is a beautiful 1943 Haynes solid silver flute, made during the era when everything coming out of the Boston shop was truly hand-built. There’s no plating anywhere on this instrument—every section of the body, headjoint, footjoint, and even the keys themselves are stamped “sterling.” It’s the real thing in every sense, and it doesn’t say “commercial” anywhere. This is the level of flute Haynes was known for before the later production distinctions even existed.

The flute is in very good condition for its age, showing only normal cosmetic marks, including a couple of tiny nicks at the end of the foot joint. It has recently been cleaned, the pads were reseated, and it was fully regulated so it seals well and plays evenly across the entire range. The mechanism feels solid and responsive—exactly what you want from a mid-century Haynes.

Tonally, it has that classic wartime-era Haynes character: warm, resonant, and colorful, with a strong core that carries. These instruments from the early-to-mid 1940s are known for their craftsmanship and depth of sound, and this one absolutely fits that tradition.

It comes with the hard case pictured.

I should also mention that when I spoke with a Haynes representative, they told me that a comparable handmade, all-silver Haynes today would cost at least $12,000. Between the sterling keys, the era, and the handmade construction, this flute sits squarely in that tier.

As an added bonus, I’m including a small accessory bundle with the flute: a K&M flute stand, a Thumbport, a Bo-Pep finger rest, a pack of Yamaha pad cleaning paper, and a large Yamaha silver cleaning ball. All of these can be seen in the final photo.

A remarkable example of a fully handmade Haynes—well cared for, freshly serviced, and ready for its next player.