Jeff Stockham Collection
By day
Jeff is a freelance graphic designer, and by night, a much in-demand trumpeter for settings ranging from civil war brass bands to swing and be-bop jazz. He has a collection of vintage horns ranging in the
hundreds, and does most of his own restoration work. Here are a few of his pieces, with hopefully more to come. Jeff lives in Syracuse, New York. All images ©2000 Jeff Stockham Couesnon Cornet
Cornet in Bb, low pitch, marked "Couesnon & Co. / First Gold Medal Paris 1889 / Excelsior / Made Expressly For / T. Claxton / Toronto".
No serial number. Raw brass finish. Mouthpiece and Bb shank are not original to the instrument. Ornately embossed ferrules and brace pads. Thomas Claxton was a music dealer in Toronto, and for a short time employed
budding cornetist Herbert L. Clarke as a clerk.York Airflow Cornet & Trumpet c1940
(left sides) (right sides)
York "Airflow" model Bb trumpet (top) and Bb cornet (bottom). Trumpet is serial
#121367, cornet is #122113. Both ca. 1940-41. I know little about this model except that it is quite rare. These are the only two examples I have ever seen. Both have been overhauled and relacquered. The cornet was
purchased in its present condition; the trumpet was a basket case (an EBay find) and was overhauled and relacquered by Anderson Plating. Both have their original cases; the cornet case is in good condition, the trumpet
case in poor shape with much mildew and water damage. Circular Cornet "Circular cornet" This instrument is actually a rare item known as an "Altophone". Pitched in Eb alto, low pitch. Marked "Brua C. Keefer Mfg.
Co. / Maker / Highest Grade / Williamsport,PA. Serial #7626. Built ca. 1919. About 95% of original silverplate finish remains. The Altophone was invented by Henry Distin and is essentially an upright circular alto horn.
This intrument includes the original mouthpiece, lyre, and case (complete outfit) in good condition. It was purchased at the Chelsea Flea Market in Manhattan, and is shown in as-found condition. It plays better than
most Eb alto instruments I have played.Conn Eb Cornet Conn Wonder model cornet in Eb, high pitch, serial #13191, built ca. 1887. Marked "Made By / C.G.Conn / Elkhart-Ind. / And / Worchester / Mass." Fully
burnished silverplate finish with goldplated bell interior, engraving, ferrules, valve caps, buttons, setscrews, waterkey, lyre, and original mouthpiece. Excellent, nearly unplayed original condition. Original case in
fair/good condition with a bit of water damage to underside. Echo Trumpet Echo trumpet in Bb/A, low pitch, made by W. Fischer, Instrumentenmacher, Chur, Schweiz (Switzerland). Early/mid-20th century. No serial #. Raw brass/german silver
finish. 4th valve actuates and echo bell. Includes Bb mainslide (withour rotor), original mouthpiece, and original case in poor condition. Awaiting cosmetic restoration.Fluegel Horn Flugelhorn in Bb, high pitch,
made by Henry Distin. Serail #15976 (bell)/18289 (valves), ca. 1899-1904. Marked "Superior / Henry Distin Mfg. Co. / Makers / Williamsport,PA / Highest Grade" Relacquered brass finish. 1st valve trigger
probably added later.Keyed Bugle
Keyed Bugle in Bb, high pitch. Ca. 1820-35. No maker's signature. Copper with brass trim and six brass keys. Adjustable tuning shank built into mouthpipe. Reproduction mouthpiece, turned by myself.
Formerly owned by Ron Johnson, a collector in Cooperstown, NY, and attributed by Ralph Dudgeon as possibly made by Thomas Percival.Top Action Rotary Cornet Cornet (Bell-front Saxhorn) in Eb, high pitch. Ca. 1872-1879. Marked "Manufd. by
Martin, Pollmann & Co., New York." German silver with three top-action string rotary valves. Period mouthpiece is not original. Tuning bit is 20th century. Purchased in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and restored by Robert
Pallansch. This instrument plays very well, with a compact, light tone and easy response.
Side Action Rotary Cornet Cornet in Bb (low pitch) marked "Bohland & Fuchs/Musikinstrumenten-Fabrik /Graslitz, Böhmen" Ca. late 19th
century. Raw brass with German silver trim and three side-action clockspring rotary valves. This instrument was probably originally equipped with an additional slide for high pitch. It has an unmarked period mouthpiece.
The triangular arrangement of the valves is unusual; an identical instrument is illustrated in Peter Adams' book and pictured in Richard Dundas' book. It will require minor restoration to make it completely
playable. It is pictured as found.Conn 80A Victor (highly engraved, gold plated)
Cornet in Bb/A, low pitch, marked "Made By / C.G.CONN Ltd. / Elkhart / -Ind." Serial #169616, ca. 1920. Star on 2nd valve casing indicates a
custom order. 98% original burnished goldplate finish remains. Bell engraving appears to be by Julius Stenberg and includes extensive scrollwork, seven five-petal flowers, leaves, four roses, and a circular sunburst
border backing the nude figure of Leda on the back of a swan. Includes original mouthpiece, lyre , mute and case which has remnants of Cornell University stickers, and is stenciled with the military ID number and name
of the original owner, H.T. Ward.Wurlitzer Eb Cornet (as found)
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