Prussian Cornet, Berliner Pumpen Valved
March 20, 2008 by Robert Medley
Filed under Brass
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.
Berliner Valve Tuba
March 19, 2008 by Robert Medley
Filed under Brass
The Berliner Valve tuba in this article is one I acquired from a friend and is an early example (1840-1850) of a tuba which still had the shape of an ophicleide from which the tuba developed. It has two valves up and two valves down and looks exactly like one in an advertisement of Herold in Klingenthal ca. 1855 featured in the Journal of the American Musical Society authored by Dr. Herbert Heyde. It is probably not as early as the Prussian cornet, but every bit as important in the development of the Berliner pumpen valve.
The second quarter of the 19th century was probably the busiest and most important in the development of valve systems and to a lesser degree, the configuration of tubing on horns. The major developments of the rotary valve, the piston valve, the box valve, the Stolzel and Bluhmel valve, the Vienna valve and Perinet valve all occurred between 1825 and 1850. William Wieprich the director of the Gard du Corps band in Berlin favored the Berliner valve and championed its cause, but within the 80 year period of 1830-1910, the Berliner valve faded and disappeared.
Robert played a Berliner valve horn while in the 1st Brigade Band and favored it over the American string action rotary which was the most popular valve system during the Civil War. He has collected a variety of “Berliner Pumpen” valved horns representing the period between 1830 and 1870 and am still convinced it is superior to the Pernet valve which is popular today.
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.
