I played the flute for a couple of years.  I found a Fred Wilkins model (I believe that it was Armstrong).  The story that I heard was that Mr. Wilkins played with the Boston Symphony and was asked by Armstrong to promote their instruments.  He handed them his flute (a Hayes Commercial) and told them if that could produce it, he would endorse it.  They did and he did.  I originally had an open hole but there was a problem with the foot joint that I could not get fixed.  I swapped it for a closed hole and never looked back.  

I don't think that flute was ever popular and I bet most of them were melted down when silver became pricey.  Not fancy but a very nice instrument.  

I played in for several years in the pit orchestra for the local youth summer theaters.  There were Reed I and Reed II parts, and you got to play Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, clarinet, and flute.  The orchestra was "salted" with music majors from the local University for the final performances.  A lot of fun.