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Soprano cornet, E-flat, D, D-flat, C

Trade Name Henry Pourcelle

Distributor C. Bruno & Son, Inc.

Date1885 ca.

Place DistributedNew York, New York, U.S.A.

Place MadeParis, France, Europe

ModelBesson Model no. 505

Serial No.none

SignedEngraved on bell: Henry. Pourcelle / ParisMarkingsStamped on valve casings and caps, respectively: 1, 2, 3 Stamped on second valve casing: T / C Stamped on third valve casing: CDescriptionNickel-plated brass, single loop, tuning slide at leadpipe with ligature screw (takes shanks for E-flat, D, and D-flat, slide crook for C), three Périnet valves (1, ½, 1½), single water key at first bow, WW 3-2-1

Three nickel-plated brass tuning shanks for E-flat, D, and D-flat, single-coiled nickel-plated crook for C stamped UT.
Unstamped nickel-plated brass mouthpiece (poorly fitting with shanks and crook, not original) and nickel-plated lyre.

Henry Pourcelle, Paris, was a trade name used by dealer Charles Bruno & Son in New York for imported wind instruments. This model soprano E-flat cornet was available at least since 1883–1884 and is illustrated in a trade catalog by C. Bruno & Son from these years. In this catalog, it was offered as “Besson Model, no. 505” for $37.00; the nickel-plating cost an extra $5.00. The same model was still available as no. 505 in an Illustrated Catalog by C. Bruno & Son of ca. 1890.
DimensionsHeight: 299 mm
Tube length: 868 mm, 899 mm, 915 mm, 966 mm, 1035 mm, 1105 mm
Bore diameter (initial, telescopic tuning slide, minimum, valve slides): 11 mm, 11.9 mm, 9.7 mm, 11.6 mm (0.457 inches)
Bore diameter (shanks and crook, range initial, minimum): 9.4–8.9 mm, 8.8–7.7 mm
Bell diameter: 123 mm
ProvenancePurchased from Russell B. Mamone, Arlington, Virginia, 1983.
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. 174-75, 287.

Credit LineJoe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection, 1999

Object number06811

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