Cornet, B-flat, c
Date1894
Place MadeWilliamsport, Pennsylvania, United States, North America
ModelHighest Grade London Model
Serial No.12255 (valve cluster) / 11252 (bell)
SignedStamped on bell: SUPERIOR / TRADE [American eagle with valved trumpet] MARK / HENRY DISTIN MFG. Co. / MAKERS / WILLIAMSPORT. PA / HIGHEST GRADE / 11262MarkingsStamped on second valve casing: 12255
Stamped on valve casings, lower valve caps and spring stems, respectively: 70, 71, 72
Stamped on receiver ferrule: 0
DescriptionSilver-plated brass with gilding, mother-of-pearl finger buttons, double loop, tuning slide at second bow, removable leadpipe (shank), C attachment bypassing leadpipe and main tuning slide, three Périnet valves (1, ½, 1½), top-sprung, spring inside hollow stem, alignment by three unequal lugs on spring anchor plate, pistons brass, double water key (first and third bows), single water key (C attachment), windway 3-2-1.
One silver-plated B-flat brass tuning shank
Two silver tuning bits
C-attachment inserted instead of main tuning slide with telescopic tuning slide with ligature screw
Silver mouthpiece, originally gilded, stamped “HENRY DISTIN MFG. Co.” on the stem and “1/ LEVY / MODEL” on the cup
Silver-plated brass mouthpiece, stamped “HENRY DISTIN MFG. Co.” on the stem and “2’ on the cup
Silver-plated brass lyre stamped “HENRY DISTIN MFG. Co.”
Date according to serial numbers. This cornet was made after Henry Distin’s retirement in 1890 under the general management of Brua Cameron Keefer, Sr., (1860-1927).
DimensionsHeight: 312 mm
Tube length: 1235 mm, 1296 mm, 1169 mm
Bore diameter (initial, minimum, tuning slide, valve slides): 12 mm, 9.8 mm, 11.8 mm, 11.8 mm
Bore diameter (shank, C-attachment, range initial, minimum): 10–10.5 mm, 9–8.4 mm
Bell diameter: 126 mm
ProvenancePurchased from Richard’s Band, Dallas, Texas, 1987.
Published ReferencesSabine Katharina Klaus, Trumpets and Other High Brass: A History Inspired by the Joe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection. Volume 4: The Heydey of the Cornet (Vermillion, SD: National Music Museum, 2022), pp. 63-64, 271.
Credit LineJoe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection, 1999
Object number06900
On View
Not on view
1880 ca.