Lead weights do still exist, The Zeiterion in New Bedford where I work still uses solid lead weights without an aluminum casing. They have not upgraded for many reasons, mostly because the lead weights are the best for their purposes. Reasons to use lead include:
A) The Z has a double
purchase fly
system with relatively small arbors, therefor we need the heaviest weights possible in order to get the most out of our linesets, a lead
counterweight weighs 42lbs per 1" thick 6" wide brick vs. 21lbs for a steel brick of the same size. We can only fit 1400lbs of weight on each
arbor WITH lead weights which means each pipe can only hold 700lbs.
B)The
theatre has always used lead and therefore we already have lead bricks in
stock and they don't have enough money to afford new bricks anyways. Also lugging new stocks of bricks up to the
fly tower would be back breaking and take at least a week without the use of a helicopter to lift the pallets and place them on the roof. (The Z's
fly tower can only be accessed by exiting the roof access hatch and climbing up the side of the
fly tower to get to the
grid access door.)
That being said...gloves are a requirement when working with lead weights as well as long sleeved shirts. Mask's are also recommended and you must be extra careful NOT to
drop the weights as they are easily damaged and lead particles can be dislodged and become airborne. Lead weights are usually soft and a dark grey color, scratches appear silvery at first but quickly tarnish to the dark grey color as the surface becomes Lead Oxide very quickly.
Lead weights are never installed into new theatres as far as I know, the ones at The Z are relics of the 1940's and 50's and all new theatres built after the discovery that lead was poisonous will not have them, they went the same way as lead paint. I'm sure when The Z gets the $35 Million they need to renovate the lead bricks will disappear with the rest of the old fly
system.
