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1876 McFadden
Cornet in Bb, made by George
McFadden in Syracuse, New York, in about 1876. Engraved on the bell is the designation: "Conic Acoustic Cornet". I assume that this has to do with the unusually long slowly tapering
mouthpipe. It is otherwise very conventional, but visually unique. The bore measures .467". This cornet has survived in almost unused condition. The only repair ever done to this instrument
the valves were plated at one time, and the corks were replaced.
This cornet commemorates the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, and the awards that were won by McFaddens instruments. Not much is
known about George McFadden. We first hear of him in Worcester Mass. in 1872, when he teamed up with Frederick Beaumont, a former employee of Isaac Fiske, to make copies of Fiske's instruments. They were out
of business by 1875, at which time McFadden moved to Syracuse, New York, where he evidently continued making cornets. Instruments by McFadden are quite rare today.
Case
Right
Valve Cluster
Bell Detail 1
Bell Detail 2
Mouthpiece & Shank1861 Sax Cornet
Cornet in Bb, made by Adolphe Sax in Paris, 1861. Sax was, of course, best know the inventor of the Saxophone family and developer of the Saxhorn family, but he made brass instruments of every description.
His cornets were of outstanding quality. This is a very standard Francais model with ample proportions, which compare surprisingly well with modern cornets.
Cornets by Sax are rare even in European
collections, and this one is very original and complete, with Bb and A shanks and lyre. I also believe that the mouthpiece is original with the instrument. The crook connecting the tuning slide with the
third valve has been shortened, presumably to bring the pitch up to the standard band pitch, which was around A=457Hz.
Right
Bell Detail 1845 Graves Keyed Bugle
Keyed bugle in Bb with seven keys, made by Graves and CO., Winchester, New Hampshire, in about 1845. Graves was the first important maker of brass instruments in the U.S.,
starting out with woodwinds in the 1820's, and then adding English brass instrument maker James Keat to the firm in the late 1830's. By the early 1840's, they were producing keyed bugles, valved and natural
trumpets, post horns, French horns, alto and tenor valved instruments known as trombacellos, ophicleides, slide trombones and tubas. Valve types included Stoelzel, Berliner, twin piston and Payne rotary
valves. Standard rotary valves were made after they moved to Boston in 1851.
This instrument has survived in quite good condition, although it has been restored and the largest key, which was missing,
was replaced. It is not known if the crook and mouthpiece were made by Graves, but are certainly from the period and were found with the instrument by an antique dealer. Bb keyed bugles by Graves are
actually more rare than those in Eb, because the Eb was their specialty, being the solo instrument in the American bands of the 1840's and 1850's. My guess is that there are only twenty or less Graves Bb keyed
bugles in existence.
Left
Bell Detail
Mouthpiece Unique 1921 Conn Bb Cornet
Cornet in Bb, made by C.G. Conn Ltd., Elkhart, Ind. in 1921. Burnished gold plated. The exact model is unknown, but it is obviously derivative of the Victor New
Wonder small bore cornet. My assumption is that this cornet was custom built and engraved to the customer's order. It differs from the Victor in that it is lacking the "opera glass" tuning wheel on
the main tuning slide and the stop rod assembly on the A slide. These were never installed on this cornet.
The engraving is mostly what makes this cornet special. Above the signature is a nude
woman dancing on a swan. On either side are griffins and down below is Mephistopheles himself. All of this, of course is intertwined with the usual scrolls and flowers. Engraved below it all, next to
the bell rim is "A. Liberati, Virtuoso". It is not known for sure whether this cornet was built for Liberati, himself, or an admirer. Alessandro Liberati is one of the most famous cornet soloists
of all time, which would make this a very important cornet, if his ownership could be proved. Right Side
Bell Engraving (Satan)
Bell Engraving (Eve)
Engraving (serpent) 1890 Distin Eb Cornet
Eb cornet Made by Henry Distin, Williamsport, PA, in about 1890. Superior model, fully engraved with gold trim. This is
another excellent playing high quality instrument by Distin with a fancy finish.
Right Side
Bell Detail 1865 Metzler & Co. Cirular Pocket Cornet
Circular pocket cornet in Bb, signed
"Metzler & Co., London", made about 1865. Metzler is thought to me an importer and dealer only, not a maker. This cornet was probably made in Germany or Austro-Hungary. The bell rim is
oval shaped to make this cornet more compact. In England small circular cornets in C or Bb are sometimes known as "buskars bugles" because they were popular among street musicians. This one would
have been convenient to carry under a coat or in a bag, among one's belongings. The mouthpipe shank, finger buttons and waterkey are not original on this instrument. The original shank was probably
shorter, but with this one it plays at A=440Hz. Circular cornets are quite rare and highly prized by collectors. right side
left side
bell detail
1845 Wood & Ivy Cornet
Cornet in Bb signed by Wood & Ivy, London, as well as Townsend, Manchester, about 1845. Stoelzel valve cornets like this are
usually known in England and the U.S. as cornopeans. This one has a "McFarlan's clapper key" and crooks for A, G, F, E and Eb. The key could be used for trills. At the time that this cornet
was made, the keyed bugle was still a popular soprano brass instrument and the players must have seen an advantage to keeping one key. Early professional cornet players in England were expected to play keyed bugle
and natural trumpet along with the cornet. The ability to choose from six keys in which to play would have made the job a little easier. The mouthpiece is original to this cornet.Wood & Ivy as well as
Townsend are believed to be dealers and not makers. This cornet may have been made by some other English maker, but more likely was made in Germany. The nickel trim and wide engraved bell garland were more
typical of German tradition than English, although the overall design is very much English. It does make it appear a deluxe model never the less. Very early cornets, like this one are very hard to find these
days, and are an important addition to a collection. left side
right side
case, horn, accessories
valve & clapper key detail
bell detailBack to Robb's first page |
