Flute Weights Sticky

OK…I feel the need to improve the knowledge base on flute weights. One new flute, one antique for comparison (plus, they’re the only 2 flutes I have these days). If only I’d weighed the small* treasure trove of flutes I’ve owned over the years!

  • Henry Wylde 8 key - Rudall & Rose Medium Hole Style, cocus, fully lined headjoint, sterling silver keys & rings (wide at top/bottom), block mounts: 444 grams


  • Copley 8 key delrin - delrin, sterling silver fully lined headjoint, sterling silver keys & rings, block mounts: 477 grams

Eric


*Small being a relative term, using the Dayton Miller collection as a baseline.

Maker Name: Casey Burns
Maker’s model type designation: Folk Flute
Material type: African Blackwood
Headjoint: Unlined, tunable with long tenon
Rings: N/A
Number of keys: 0
Weight: 329g
Balance point: -32.5
Foot: Short

I’ve been learning on this flute for a year and a half now. My technique target(McGee’s article and the Grey Larsen tutor are frequently revisited) has been rockstro hold, but am finding that with the balance point so far left, the pinky doesn’t have much choice in getting involved. The leverage(farther down the flute and better angled for preventing rotation) makes a big difference in stability. When using only RH thumb, the flute tends to roll inward, and my left hand rolls upward and can’t get the flute to perch just right.

Maker Name: Rob Forbes
Maker’s model type designation: Delrin keyless Pratten-model in D; one-piece cork
Material type: Delrin
Headjoint: Unlined, tunable with long tenon
Rings: silver
Number of keys: 0
Weight: 259g
Balance point: -34mm
Foot: Short

Maker Name: Copley & Boegli
Maker’s model type designation: 3-piece keyless with rings in D
Material type: Delrin
Headjoint: Unlined, tunable with long tenon
Rings: silver
Number of keys: 0
Weight: 292g
Balance point: -16mm when tuned to a=440; -13mm pushed in
Foot: Short

I was just doing a little straightening up and found a sheet of paper with my measurements of a few flutes, done a year or two ago.

Maker: Phil Bleazey

Model: Rudall; very small-holed, keyless, boxwood

Mass: 270 g

Balance point: 37 mm toward head

Maker: Peter Noy

Model: small-holed, one key, boxwood

Mass: 267 g

BP: 10-12 mm toward head

Maker: Patrick Olwell

Type: medium holed, rosewood (Honduran?), all-wood (no slide)

M: 235

BP: 0

Maker: Olwell

Model: Rottenburgh, rosewood (probably Brazilian), A415

M: 238

BP: 0

Maker: Rod Cameron

Model: Grenser, boxwood, A415

M: 241

BP: 0

A couple of comments: the flutes without slides are perfectly balanced. The Bleazey had a deep chimney (thick nead), and the balance point shows that.