Topics created by Dale Proctor

Right, that is why I suggested it could be an earlier cornet of his.

Looking at it more, it doesn't look like a French instrument. Those style of keys are very much the German style with the shape of the key and the large "puck" the key is attached to. Besson did make some rotary valve cornets (e.g. Robb has one on his website) but the keys don't look like that. The thin bracing also does not look like any Besson bracing I have seen. Also that style of engraving looks later to me, the French engraving of that period is pure lines; that style of engraving is what was popular post-1900. And I agree the engraving looks too sloppy for a Besson. The water key has a coil spring on it which is also post-1900.

There could be explanations for this, e.g. Besson was copying the recent German designs and had not yet added their own touches to it. But, I would say some healthy skepticism is in order until there are more details 😁

PS Here is a German cornet from around 1900, it looks a lot more like this than like any French instrument (notice the bracing for example). Also this style was patented in 1900 and popular then .. more strikes.

https://www.facebook.com/112608206776597/posts/the-cross-cornet-kreuzkornett-was-quite-famous-at-the-end-of-the-19th-century-sc/250915856279164/

I kept the Olds flugelhorn and Eb/D trumpet, the 3 Bachs (Bb, C, and cornet), the Conn 6B trumpet, and the 150 year old Henry Lehnert cornet. In addition to those, I now have an 1890 English Besson A/Bb/C cornet and a 1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet. I suppose that makes 9 cornets & trumpets total, plus the 3 bugles. Two of the bugles are just bookcase ornaments in the den, though - the Kanstul is the only one I ever play, and that’s just for the occasional sounding of Taps.

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Thanks, my friend. That sounds like solid information. Playing relaxed is the key, for sure, but it helps to be reminded of that. Good breath support and posture make a big difference, too, as I’ve learned over the years.

This trumpet only comes out at Christmas time. It might well be my favorite ornament!

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" . . one of the things he liked about the Committee was how the spit valves kept the sound moist."

LOL.
Another love/hate relationship. This'll be my fourth, and last, Committee. I figure with that and my Benge, I've got all my bases covered. Time to spend less time searching and more time playing.

That's very neat, thanks for sharing!

I had another rehearsal last night for a July 4 patriotic concert. About a 2 hour rehearsal, and I was a little spent by the end, having barely touched a horn for the last 14 months. I used my new Curry 3C on the old Bach 184 cornet again, and am really happy with its playability and my endurance on it. If I’d thought about it, I would have had Mark make me one years ago.

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It's not hard to get valves positioned as close to the factory design as possible. A small mirror, a focused light source, and shims, whether purchased or improvised/hand-made, combined with an intelligent approach and some time, will yield good results. If someone has limited manual skills, of course paying someone else that does have the skills to succeed to do the job makes sense.

@Dale-Proctor Wow!!!!

@bobmiller1969
Thanks! The oval ports allow the rotors to be a smaller diameter, which makes the valve action very fast. As far as I know, only a few makers used them in the 19th century, and they were found only on their top model instruments.

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Remember this stuff? more sore eyes than eye candy, but...it's Conn!
https://imgur.com/DhVyXM7