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Cornet1 · 09-01-2006, 01:13 PM

Just a point about Dale Proctor's cornet;

"........ call it a "jawbreaker" because it played so badly out of tune with itself, even after leak repairs and an Anderson's valve job.
J.W. Pepper Bb, ca. 1908, with high and low pitch leadpipes...."

This type of cornet is instantly recognisable to UK bandsmen of my era...ie, those who learned on these 'junk' instruments which had been made obsolete by the change to 'low pitch' in the early 1960's....

Note;....The 'shanks' shown have nothing to do with low/high pitch, they are the Bb shank seen fitted and an 'A' shank above. It is (was) not possible to effect a good change to low pitch using just a shank change. Properly converted instruments had extra lengths of tube added to the slides and a new, longer tuning slide. Many conversions were not too successful and eventually most HP instruments were discarded. That said, ny own band has a Hawkes tenor horn made in 1910 and converted in 1959 which is a beautiful instrument with excellent intonation.

Incidentally, the mpc in the photo is the wrong size for these instruments,...it should fit much further into the shank leaving only about 1/4" of taper showing. This is important to get the right sound and easy playing feel to these cornets.

09-01-2006, 01:13 PM	#52 (permalink)
Cornet1 Pianissimo User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Essex, England Posts: 133	Just a point about Dale Proctor's cornet; "........ call it a "jawbreaker" because it played so badly out of tune with itself, even after leak repairs and an Anderson's valve job. J.W. Pepper Bb, ca. 1908, with high and low pitch leadpipes...." This type of cornet is instantly recognisable to UK bandsmen of my era...ie, those who learned on these 'junk' instruments which had been made obsolete by the change to 'low pitch' in the early 1960's.... Note;....The 'shanks' shown have nothing to do with low/high pitch, they are the Bb shank seen fitted and an 'A' shank above. It is (was) not possible to effect a good change to low pitch using just a shank change. Properly converted instruments had extra lengths of tube added to the slides and a new, longer tuning slide. Many conversions were not too successful and eventually most HP instruments were discarded. That said, ny own band has a Hawkes tenor horn made in 1910 and converted in 1959 which is a beautiful instrument with excellent intonation. Incidentally, the mpc in the photo is the wrong size for these instruments,...it should fit much further into the shank leaving only about 1/4" of taper showing. This is important to get the right sound and easy playing feel to these cornets. Last edited by Cornet1; 09-01-2006 at 01:31 PM.