| Trumpetnick got it exactly right. It is a vent (hole) to make the high C very secure. Thein trumpets can be ordered with multiple vents for A, B and C. It looks like a water key, but it is on top of the tuning slide on a rotary trumpet. It is similar in function to the octave key on a flute or saxophone. I have researched this and understand the functionality, but have not been able to find out who made this first and why. Good rotary trumpets are as easy to play upstairs as the piston valved counterparts. This "invention" does reduce the scare on Also sprach Zarathustra though.
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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. |