Brass crusader

Dave,
It would depend totally on your budget. For around $100, I'd go with an L.A Olds cornet. This would be an ambassador model. For a bit more, if you could find an L.A. Special cornet, spend the extra cash.
I've also got a late '60's Special, that has the Rey-o-loy(rose brass) bell section. That's a great horn.
I also hear great things about the Conn Coprion Director Cornets. I've got a bunch of Director trumpets, and have owned the Coprion-belled Director model trumpet. A really nice, dark tone. This can mostly be attributed to the coprion(copper) bells.

As far as mouthpieces go, I play a Bach 7bw in my Special. The Ambassadors from L.A have large-shank recievers, thus limiting me to the original Olds#3 mouthpiece. You can, however, use a standard flugel mouthpiece in these horns, but you get a very mellow tone as a result. I use the Ambassador as my more jazz cornet, and play the Special for everything else. It's a terrific all-around horn.
Good luck

__________________
Yamaha Xeno Custom w/ reverse leadpipe
Conn "Vintage One" C tpt, raw brass prototype
1947 Olds Super Recording tpt
1947 Olds Special tpt
1952 Olds Ambassador cornet
1967 Olds Special cornet
1970's Yamaha 631 Flugel w/ Rose brass bell
1970's Conn 17b Coprion director
Other assorted Conns and Olds
Yamaha and Bach Mouthpieces
1929 Martin Handcraft "The New Master"
1935 Conn 22B NY Symphony Special tpt
'83 Callet New York Super Large Bore trpt.
'35 Conn 32H trombone
Late '60's Couesnon Flugel