For many years, we have combatted this problem of wear with a double-axle thumb key design that doubles the amount of contact area for each key. Both the thumb and the thumb-Bb ride on independent axles, lending much greater reliability and strength to what many consider the Achilles heel of the modern flute: the typical single-axle thumb mechanism.
Double-Axle Thumb Keys
Loose thumb keys are one of the first signs a flute is being well used. Over the course of time, all mechanism tubes wear around the axle, and wear is always concentrated around keys with short tubes, especially the thumb and thumb-Bb.
Two axles also
mean greater rigidity for the thumb key, which definitely helps it to seal
properly and stay that way through grueling hours of practice and performance.
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