New Cornet Photo Additions Below!

Do you have a vintage cornet  you'd like to sell me?

IMPORTANT NOTE
to users of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0:

I have always composited my photos into a single, vertical image -- my reasoning is that they always download (and display) from top to bottom, so you can look at the first view or two while the remaining views continue to download. Then you would use your scrollbar to see the images towards the bottom.

The latest version of Internet Explorer has a new feature -- after downloading the image, it resizes the image so it will fit on your screen all all at the same time.  In doing so, it will drastically reduce the size of the images!

To return the images back to the larger "actual size" (as defined by the resolution), place your cursor anywhere over the "resized" image for a few moments, and you will see an orange button appear over the lower right corner of the image.  Click on this button once, and the image will revert to the larger original size.  Use your scrollbar to navigate to the pictures farther down.

You can also change the preferences so that Internet Explorer will NOT resize photos fit the screen: Tools, to Internet Options, to Advanced tab, down to Multimedia -- uncheck "enable automatic image resizing."

1886 C.G. Conn "Ultimatum" C/Bb/A (12356)  The Ultimatum was Conn's standard issue in-between the initial designs (such as the "4-in-1") and the "Wonder" series.  This is a late model Ultimatum; they were known to have been made after the introduction of the Wonder in 1886.  Note the unusual water collector beneath the valves.  The only other instance of this known to me is an instrument in the Shrine Music Museum.  Also noteworthy is the engraving which features birdlike faces.  I suspect this instrument had gold trim to start which was either polished off, or lost when replated.

c1883 C.G. Conn "Ultimatum" Bb/A (7013)  Several variations of the basic Ultimatum wrap have surfaced, this unrestored cornet being one.  The difference here, is a rather ordinary leadpipe and main tuning slide configuration.  Mark Metzler recently acquired yet another variation and is currently restoring it.

1929 Olds Cornet with hammered bell (881)  In the first year of Olds cornet production, the design ws fairly ordinary, and had no model name.  As near as I can tell, this was replaced around 1930 with the design I generally refer to as "The Olds," which is the model I play for gigs.  Both were available with the optional hand-hammered bell, which later became standard on the Military Model cornet and trumpet.  This example had been nicely re-lacquered in the past.  Obviously a well-cared for instrument, it still has its original case, key, and mouthpiece.

1870 Henry Lehnert Eb Miniature   (no serial)  This rotary cornet is unusual in several respects.  It is a pocket cornet, and is less than 8" in length with the leadpipe shank removed.  The rotary valves are "Allen" type, which means the tubing is widened and reduced in height as it enters the rotary valve.  In this way, the valves don't have to rotate as much.  Lehnert was a top U.S. maker in the 19th century and was located in Philadelphia.  This cornet is nickel silver, often referred to as "German Silver" in catalogs of the day.

c1930 C.A. Wunderlich "Jazzophon" (no serial)  One of a line of saxophone-shaped trumpets made in very small numbers during the jazz age in Germany, this Jazzophon features two bells.  One is conventional, while the other incorporates a permanent wah-wah mute, trigger activated.  A fourth piston valve diverts the air flow from one bell to the other, which essentially makes this an "echo trumpet" but in a much different configuration than seen on any echo cornet.

1880 C.G. Conn "SOLO Model" Bb/A (1988)  In 1880, Conn sold a variety of cornet designs, but their top of the line models were the "4-in-1," "Clear Bore Vocal," and "Solo."  Surprisingly, the SOLO (Bb/A) seems to be the least common of the three.  I currently know of just one other, and it is just one serial number lower than this example.  The Conn arrived in extremely rough condition.  I sent it (12/5) off for silver plating -- here is how it looks prepped.  Click on the Model Name (above) to see it finished

1941 York Air Flow Cornet (22099)  One of the most unique cornet and trumpet designs ever made was the Air Flow, made just prior to WW2.  There were only slight differences between the two.  It was designed so that the valves would be at a 45 degree angle from the player's point of view, and magazine ads made broad claims about adding several notes to the player's range.  This example is silverplated with gold bell wash -- most were lacquered brass.

1914 York "Wizard" (100061)  This was designed by Ernst Couturier prior to him starting his own company, and employed his ideas on "continuous conical bore."  Note that the slides are all permanently attached.  This nearly mint original has a complete outfit as well.  Also noteworthy is the breadth of the bell throat, which approaches that of a flugelhorn.  He made a model for Holton, but I have never been able to figure out how it differed from their ordinary "New Proportion" -- it may have been identical; merely a marketing ploy.

c1895 Gautrot (Couesnon) Pocket Cornet (no serial) This little cornet is unmarked, but the recent discovery of a marked Gautrot Brevete pocket, identical in all respects, confirms its origins.  Gautrot was acquired by Couesnon in 1883 (and continued to use the Gautrot name), so it could have been made by either.  Note the J.W. Pepper (import) Pocket Cornet elsewhere on this page -- except for a a couple of insignificant details, it is also identical.  The shank receiver had to be replaced on this cornet, but it was taken from a parts Gautrot cornet.

c1914 John Heald "Artistone" Cornet (2554)  Not well known is the fact that Heald made two long model cornets at the same time -- the other was the "Concertone" model.  All Heald cornets employed his patented thumb-activated water key, a very useful feature.  It is believed that Heald himself undertook all important facets of production personally -- these cornets are highly regarded as players, which seems to be confirmed by the  surprising number which have survived in spite of what was surely a small total production.

1885 F. Besson (London) Echo Cornet (35399)  This is an original echo cornet outfit which was, unfortunately, missing the echo bell.  Using parts from "junker" Besson cornets from the same time, plus a reproduction echo bell, I was able to fabricate the new echo attachment shown, which was silver plated to match.  It's unusual to see an original clamshell hard case for an echo cornet, and even more unusual in the way that it holds the horn with the echo bell attached.  Fabricating the new attachment, while still fitting the original case was a unique challenge. 

c1900 Frederick Busch (1458)  Frederick Busch was a small maker located in New York City. He made cornets in several different popular "wraps" of the day.  This one is a virtual copy of the Besson.  The original bit receiver and leadpipe were cut off at the second valve and replaced with a trumpet receiver.  I am presently restoring this cornet.

c1880 George McFadden (1215) 
c1882 George McFadden (1257)  George McFadden was a very small maker of cornets located in Syracuse, NY.  From what I've seen, his instruments were of very good quality.  Only a handful are currently known to exist, and their serial numbers are all closely grouped, leading me to believe he may have made fewer than 300 total.  So far, the Bb cornets fall into 4 known designs, here are two of the earliest.  No. 1215 is Bb/A and high pitch.  No. 1257 is Bb/A, low pitch, in spite of having a very short 11" bell length.  It is also nickel plated, but of very nice quality -- normally nickel plating was a low-end finish option.  Note the beautiful coffin case, which is certainly original to the horn, as it closely matches the cases with 3 other McFaddens.

c1860 Graves & Co., Boston, Eb rotary -- two bells.  I originally acquired this beautiful Graves Eb rotary cornet with the forward-directed bell -- but this is removable, by virtue of two thumb screws and a threaded collar on the bell stem.  Against all reasonable odds, restoration expert Robb Stewart miraculously found an original "OTS" (over the shoulder) bell for this very instrument (with identical engraving), but alas, it has been broken off halfway down the flare.  Robb made a reproduction bell crook, and grafted this to the original bell, and the seam is barely discernable.  He also had to make the associated mounting brackets, finger hook and lyre holder.  The quality if phenomenal!  I'll take more pictures soon.

1879 August Pollmann Rotary (none) An inexpensive ($15.00 in 1879) imported string operated rotary cornet as sold by Pollman, of New York CIty.  This was a "rescue" project -- I found this in nearly destroyed condition for not much money.  The restoration was begun by Rich Ita several years ago (prior to my learning to do dent removal) with key repair and replacement done recently by Robb Stewart.  I just did "finish and detailing" work to it.  An interesting aspect to this cornet is that it was in Bb naturally (high pitch), but (according to the Pollmann catalog) came furnished with additional crooks to drop it into A, Ab and G.  Note that this system required a special wide shank cornet mouthpiece (nearly the same as a trumpet).  This was to eliminate the need for a shank to play in Bb. Shanks were only required for lower keys, unlike the French system which required a shank even for Bb.  Mechanically, this system has advantages.  Early Conns came the closest to this idea, requiring only a very short bit for Bb.  I found a couple of pigtail crooks in my parts bin which I modified for Ab and G, and I've photographed the cornet set