The Flute  Theobald Böhm (1794–1881)  played a prominent part in the  development of the transverse  flute, whose long history ranges  from the Stone Age bone flute all  the way to the modern gold  flute.
Not only did he 1. revolutionise the mechanism and the tone-hole system (Böhm system); he also 2. changed the conical form of the transverse flute to a cylindrical form, whereby the head tapers to the embouchure. While this second development is less frequently mentioned, it is nevertheless of decisive importance for the tone of a modern flute. Reviewing the development of the flute since Böhm’s endeavours, it is interesting to note that little has changed with regard to the key work, while the construction of the head has been, and still is, subject to fundamental alterations. Consequently, it is fair to say today that a major part of the flute’s tonal characteristics, such as volume, response behaviour, and timbre, is substantially influenced by the head.