Image: Six Flutes by Theobald Boehm

Six representative flutes that show the development of flutes by Theobald Boehm. These flutes are in the collection of (and images provided by) the Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

The information associated with each flute is provided below each image.

See The Western Concert Family of Flutes for more context about these flutes.

DCM 0657: Boehm & Greve / Flute in C

Munich: 1839-1846

Condition: Head joint lower section cracked with its ivory ferrule missing and replaced with a brass ferrule (possibly an early repair attempt).

Key Holes System: 8 keys, round flat flaps, pin in block.

Mark Additional: Mark on barrel.

Mark Maximum: BOEHM & GREVE / A / MUNICH

Physical Description: 4 sections, tuning slide (partial) in head.

Provenance: Sigmund Koch, Munich, 9 Sept. 1926.

Construction: Boxwood, ivory cap and ferrules, brass keys.; 66.2 cm.

DCM 0240: Boehm & Greve / Flute in C

Munich: 1839-1846

Case: Original case.

Condition: Head joint lower section cracked and missing tuning slide outer leg. Middle joint lower tenon ferrule missing.

Each tenon strengthened with silver ferrule.

Key Holes System: 9 keys, round flat flaps, post and rod.

Mark Additional: Mark on barrel.

Mark Maximum: BOEHM & GREVE / A / MUNICH

Physical Description: 3 sections, tuning slide in head.

Provenance: Arthur Gemeinhardt, Markneukirchen, Germany, 23 Feb. 1922.

Construction: Cocus, silver head joint tuning slide components and silver ferrules.; 66.3 cm.

DCM 0052: Boehm & Mendler / Flute in C

Munich: 1862-1881

Case: Original case, similar to DCM 49. Inscribed in pencil inside lid: "Case relined, like original, by Dayton C. Miller, Cleveland, Ohio. December 1917. Sample of original lining is attached [red velvet]." Nickel silver face plate to lock is detached and is inside case.

Condition: Head joint, crack at socket.

DCM ledger: "This flute was obtained from Boehm by Edward Martin Heindl. It was used by Mr. Frank Wadsworth, and later for eleven years (1903-1914) by Mr. Louis P. Fritze in Sousa's Band, and played in the 'around-the-world' tour." Letter from Fritze notes: "Repaired by broad silver band at socket of head-joint.... Originally had piece of 'mother of pearl' set in the 'stopper.'"

Key Holes System: Boehm system, open G#, rollers for C#, C.

Mark Additional: Mark engraved on upper body tenon.

Mark Maximum: BOEHM & MENDLER / MÜNCHEN

Physical Description: 3 sections, with crutch.

Provenance: Louis P. Fritze, Brooklyn, New York, Dec. 1916.

Construction: Grenadilla, silver keys and ferrules.; 68.5 cm.

DCM 0059: Boehm & Mendler / Flute in C

Munich: 1862-1888

Case: Original case, with wood cork grease container. On bottom, paper glued with name: R. P. Shippen.

Key Holes System: Boehm system, foot to B, open G#, rollers for C, B.

Mark Additional: Mark on barrel.

Mark Maximum: Th: Boehm & Mendler / in / München

Physical Description: 3 sections, post and rod on ribs. Thinned head joint, leaving integral raised embouchure plate. Silver rest for LH 1st finger.

Provenance: Eugene R. Shippen, Detroit, Michigan, 5 Feb. 1917.

Construction: Silver, cocus head, silver ferrules.; 67.6 cm.

DDCM 0415: [Attributed to Boehm & Mendler] / Flute in C

[Munich]: [1862-1888]

Condition: Crutch missing.

Key Holes System: Boehm system, open G#, rollers on C#, C.

Mark Additional: Mark engraved on barrel joint by DCM. Originally without engraving.

Mark Maximum: Th Boehm & Mendler / in / München

Provenance: Mrs. James S. Wilkins, Newton Center, Massachusetts, 6 June 1924.

Thinned head joint with integral embouchure plate. DCM ledger cites James S. Wilkins, "Biographical Notes on Theobald Boehm,"August 1900, p. 6: "Mr. Boehm made three sample flutes, one 'G' and two 'C's, of phosphor bronze. The 'G' and one of the 'C's are now in the possession of the writer. This metal Mr. Boehm pronounced the best for tone and ease of emission, but it was so extremely difficult to work that he would not make flutes of it.... Mr. Boehm always maintained that a (metal flute) with a thinned wood head piece was the best combination for making the instrument."

Construction: Phosphor bronze, cocus head.; 63.9 cm.

DCM 0092: Boehm & Mendler / Flute in C

Munich: 1877

Case: Original case.

Condition: Case lid hinge (fabric) torn apart full length.

Key Holes System: Boehm system, open G#, octave (Schleif) key.

Mark Additional: Mark engraved on barrel.

Mark Maximum: Th. Boehm & Mendler / in / München.

Physical Description: 3 sections, foot to B, rollers for C, B.

Provenance: George W. Haynes, New York, 22 Mar. 1918.

Construction: Silver, gold embouchure plate.; 67.3 cm.