Very early example of a Vienna Valve bell front alto horn with one of the earliest examples of the drive mechanism sometimes called “klinker drucken” in German. Experimentation with various valve drive mechanisms was common at this period of  early development both in the United States and Europe. In the U.S. ,Graves marketed the only known successful horn

This horn was made in Germany or Austria circa 1830-1840 and still plays quite well for an instrument that is almost 180 years old. Last played by Robert Medley in the 1st Brigade Band in the late 1980s when the horn was 150 years old. This horn would make an interesting and important addition to any collection.

Now accepting serious offers on this horn.  Contact us here

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A very important find at an auction in Fond du Lac Wisconsin. This Stoelzel Valve Corneopean was purchased in the early 1970s. Most interesting is that it included ALL of the crooks, the lyre, the original tarred coffin case, and a bubble glass painting of the musician who played this horn. Tarred instrument cases were common during the period this horn was made as it offered protection from rain .

The horn was made in Ireland in the 1850s (Irish Harp engraving) and was imported to the United States in the 1850s by John Howard Foote. The horn was completely restored and is in beautiful playing condition. It will be a significant addition to any collection, private or museum.

All crooks, the case, and the painting are included in the sale of this horn.

Accepting serious offers.  Get a hold of us on our contact page, here.

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5 bands give over 50 concert in four days. Held in conjunction with the Historic Brass Society’s Early Brass Festival. http://wwwvintagebandfestival.org

This international music event will be held in Northfield, the historic river town known for its art, antiques, pubs, and restaurants.

The festival includes more than 15 European and American bands with over 40 outdoor concerts in four days. Each day begins with noon concerts in several city parks, with continuous music into the night.

The Vintage Band Music Festival ia a part of a multi-week arts festival in Northfield called ArtSwirl 2010 which also featured graphic arts, dance, theater and music. The 2010 Vintage Band Festival will be held in conjunction with the Historic Brass Society’s Early Brass Festival.

• Admission to almost all Vintage Band Festival events was officially free, but attendees made donations to help defray our expenses. Some events, because of limited space, required advanced reservations.

•Donations are Welcome! Please help!:

• A donation of $25 is the equivalent of a concert ticket. You receive a souvenir pin.
• A donation of $75 was the equivalent of a festival pass. You receive a souvenir collector VBF pin and a ticket to all concert and dance events.
• A “silver cornet” donation of $150 made you a sponsor of the festival. You receive passes and tickets to all reserved/limited space events and receptions, a free t-shirt, a souvenir collector VBF pin, a souvenir poster, and our sincere thanks!
• A “golden euphonium” donation of $250 made you a founder of the festival. You received all passes and souvenir gifts, our sincere thanks, you will be invited join the the international musicians and scholars for a special evening reception. Larger donations are also welcome.

• Festival Headquarters during the Festival Week festival events registration, brochure, information, and a warm hello.
• More than 15 bands -over 40 outdoor concerts over 4 days!
• Most festival concerts presented free of charge. Festivalgoers, however, make donations to help us with expenses.
• The performances take place in many outdoor locations all around Northfield. Sites included Bridge Square, Way Park, Odd Fellows Park, Northfield Retirement Center, Riverside Park, Veterans’ Memorial Park, Central Park, and others.
• Many attendees bring a bicycle and a folding chair . This is the best way to get around to the concert sites. Most of the bands are e dressed in 19th Century clothing-and many festival goers did the same.
• Northfield had fantastic food available from the numerous restaurants and coffee shops.
• Hotels, motels, and B&Bs in Northfield and nearby communities
• Northfield Historical Society will present a special band history exhibit and presentations
• Schubert Club/Kugler Collection Historical Instrument Exhibit was at Northfield Arts Guild Gallery
• Mark Chalabala’s Band History Photography Exhibit was set up during the festival.
• Dancing in the streets! There were several opportunities for polka dancing and 19th century cotillion dancing.
• Live band music in taverns and restaurants during the Festival evenings.

George Cloos of New York was probably one of the best known makers of fifes during the Civil war. He worked out of New York in 1862 making two piece fifes of Granadilla wood. He also made tunable fifes pitched B flat or C known as the “Crosby Model” and advertised by Penzel-Mueller.

The fife in our classified section is unusual in that it has a “fipple” attachment or (cheater), a device used to help students to learn how to play a transverse instrument.

Horns by this maker are represented in many collections in the U.S. and throughout Europe. This maker was the first to make a F/Bflat horn with ascending third valve, as designed by Louis Vuillermoz circa 1928.

If you have more information concerning this, please feel free to post it in a comment below.

Asking:  $125.00

Contact Gordon here

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This E Flat (Eb) Parsons Cornet is from my father’s personal collection.  He is an avid antique brass wind collector and longtime member of the First Brigade Band, Watertown, WI (The 1st Brigade Band is the oldest re-created Civil War brass band; playing original music from the band books of the period on original antique instruments).   This cornet was last in service in 1985 when my father formed a small band for the Centennial Celebration of West Bend, WI.  The cornet has not been used since.

This cornet was made in the last quarter of the 19th Century. It is marked Charles H Parsons New York. Parsons was a Dealer, not a maker of instruments in the last part of the 19th & first part of the 20th Century.
The cornet is in original condition including the mouthpiece and is an excellent working example of the type of instrument a solo E flat cornetest would use in a typical town band of that time.

The horn is silver plated brass and in addition to being in excellent original condition, is an excellent player. It would be a fine instrument to acquire for a solo cornetest or someone interested in re-creating a town band of the 1875-1900 for reenactment purposes. It would also be a nice addition to an existing collection.

Price: $650.00 USD.  Buyer pays shipping and insurance costs at actual price.  If interested, contact Gordon here

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Scala was born in 1819 in Naples and came to the U.S. in 1839. He went to Washington in 1842 and became the leader of the fife corps and the eventially the leader of the band when brasses were added. The band increased from 12 to 25 members under his leadership and gained a national reputation.  Scala continued as the first and only leader of the Marine band for the next 25 years. He resigned in 1871 . He died in 1903 leaving a wife and 11 children.

During the Lincoln presidency he composed for the band and at the wedding of Kate Chase to Senator Sprague at the White house , the band played two of his compositions a waltz and a polka which were dedicated to Kate Chase.

Mr. Hall has also informed me that my favorite march “Washington Grays “was written for the 8th N.Y. Regiment which wore gray uniforms. My thanks to Mr. Hall for the correction and the information about Francis Scala.

We are considering serious offers on this extremely rare cornet.  If interested, please submit your offer to Gordon via email gordonmedley (at) gmail dot com  Alternatively, you can reach us on our Contact page.

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