|
Robb Stewart Collection Robb is one of the long-time experts of vintage brass repair,
and the history of brass wind instruments. He also makes beautiful reproductions of 19th century brass instruments. Check back soon to see additions to this page. Photos ©2000 Robb Stewart
1865 E.G. Wright Eb Cornet
Bell Detail
Cornet in Eb made by E.G. Wright in about 1865. Technically, this would qualify as a soprano flugelhorn or valved
bugle, but at the time, both the manufacturers and the players called this a cornet. E.G. Wright was one of the 4 best brass instrument makers in the U.S. from about 1839 until his death in 1871. Instruments
by Wright are fairly rare today, and very highly sought after by collectors.
1878 Boston Bb Cornet
Cornet in Bb, made by the Boston Musical Instrument Manufactory in about 1878. This rotary valve Boston 3 Star cornet is very similar to, but predates the
design that was patented in 1879. It's bore measures .484", unlike the vast majority of 3 Stars that measure .472". The Boston Musical Instrument Manufactory was founded in 1869 by E.G. Wright,
Henry Esbach, Louis Hartmann and members of the Graves family. The firm was one of the most highly regarded brass makers of the time and continued in business until about 1929. New!
1884 Distin Echo Bell Cornet
Right Side
Bell
Cornet in Bb, with echo bell, made by Henry Distin in New York
in about 1884. The second, echo bell was put into play by depressing the 4th valve. It is a muted bell about half way between a straight mute and a Harmon wa-wa mute. Henry Distin, son of the famous
John Distin, started making brass instruments in the 1850's after successfully touring Europe with the family quintet and importing French instrument to England. He sold out to Boosey & Co. and moved to New
York in about 1878. He was soon making brass instruments again, and continued in Philadelphia and then Williamsport, PA until 1909. Distin was considered one of the best U.S. makers. He surpassed C.G.
Conn in quality, but never in quantity.New!
1875 Boston "Band Model"
Left / Bottom
Bell
Cornet in Bb, made by the Boston Musical Instrument Manufactory, about 1875,
"Band Model". This was the least expensive Bb cornet available from Boston at this time, but quite a sought after cornet today. New!
1875 Antoine Courtois Cornet
Left Side
Presentation Engraving
closeup
crook
slide
Bell Engraving
From Above
Cornet in Bb, made by Antoine Courtois in Paris, about 1875. Levy's
Model. This is the actual presentation cornet that was given to Matthew Arbuckle by Patrick S. Gilmore at about the time that Gilmore hired Jules Levy, or perhaps some time earlier. Unfortunately, the
presentation is not dated on the instrument. Arbuckle was the most famous cornet soloist in the U.S. before Levy arrived. Since Arbuckle never performed recordings, he is not well known to modern cornetists
(he died in 1883), but he was the biggest star soloist of his day. Arbuckle later gave this cornet to Jules Levy. Around the turn of the century, Levy was touring the country with Z. Albert Meredith, who
later made the Meredith "Open Tone" cornets. At that time Levy gave the cornet to Meredith. In the early 1950's, he sold it, along with his entire shop, to his employee, Don Heaston. Mr. Heaston in is the
man that got me into the repair business in 1976. I purchased it in the early 1990's.
All of the engraving on this cornet, which is of very high quality, was originally highlighted in gold plating.
Most of this gold has worn off, but the original silver plating is in excellent condition. Page 2 of Robb's cornets. |
