Albert Cooper (flute maker)
Encyclopedia
Albert Cooper was a British flute maker who apprenticed at Rudall Carte until the war. After discharge, he returned to Rudall Carte but left in 1959 and set himself up as flute maker.
Cooper's primary contribution to flute making is the Cooper Scale, where the position and size (opening) of the flute's tone holes have been accurately determined. This has been now universally adopted and is promoted by all the major flute makers, in particular the flute maker Brannen Brothers
. This new scale replaces the old Boehm System
scale and measurements still being used in flute manufacture into the 1990s.
Flutes manufactured
- C flutes - 80
- Alto flutes - 8
- Piccolos with C foot - 2
- Bass flute - 3
- Flute in B - 1
Cooper's primary contribution to flute making is the Cooper Scale, where the position and size (opening) of the flute's tone holes have been accurately determined. This has been now universally adopted and is promoted by all the major flute makers, in particular the flute maker Brannen Brothers
Brannen Brothers
Brannen Brothers Flutemakers, Inc is a manufacturer of custom flutes, located in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 1978, Brannen Brothers makes each flute by hand . In 2007, the company was sold by its founders to a trio of managers....
. This new scale replaces the old Boehm System
Boehm System
The Boehm system is a system of keywork for the flute, created by inventor and flautist Theobald Boehm between 1831 and 1847.Prior to the development of the Boehm system, flutes were most commonly made of wood, with an inverse conical bore, eight keys, and tone holes that were small in size, and...
scale and measurements still being used in flute manufacture into the 1990s.