Eb Parson’s Cornet
March 30, 2009 by Gordon
Filed under Classifieds
SOLD
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
Prussian Cornet, Berliner Pumpen Valved
This instrument was acquired in a trade with an acquaintance for a baritone horn. It was found at an estate sale in Sheboygan Wisconsin in the mid 1970s.I am told by Dr. Herbert Hyde that it is a Prussian Cornet and that it dates to the mid 1840s. When I acquired it I sent it to Bob Pallansch in Fall River Virginia for repairs. Enough to make it presentable for display. It has been on display ever since that time and I would not consider using it for performance as it is very airy. Valves are the squat, early Berliner “Pumpen” which were made popular by Willhelm Wieprich, director of the Gard du Corps band in Berlin in the mid 1800s. The bell is 3 inches in diameter. I am told that the heart shaped decoration on the bell might indicate that it was used in a cavalry band. Like most collections, mine tells a story. That story is the development of valve systems on brass instruments after keyed brasses became obsolete. The Berliner Pumpen valve seems to have faded in popularity after the 1890s
A detailed description of the horn is: a soprano horn in Bb, bell front with side mounted Berliner pumpen piston valves. Mouthpipe is fixed and includes a period mouthpiece. The body of the horn is brass with brass bracing and brass brace plates. Ferrules are brass and the bell garland is German silver. Top valve caps are brass and the bottom of the valves are also brass. Piston buttons are German Silver. A decorative German Silver heart appears on the bell (cavalry band symbol?) German silver accents also are used on the bell bow guard, main bow ferrule and the 1st and 2nd valve pull plates. Length of the horn is16 inches, bell diameter is 3 inches, width is 5 1/2 inches and the bell garland width is 3/4 inch. There is a punched floral pattern in the bell garland. There is a fitted mahogany carrying case included with this horn.
