Tootsall

OK, my daughter has just phoned. An acquaintance of hers was cleaning up some old stuff in their attic and came across a horn which she did not recognize.. ."looks like a french horn but right handed, 3 piston valves, smaller". It seems her grandfather worked at a music store in New York.

Strangely enough the horn has "Karl Fischer Superior, New York" and "Model 7707" stamped on the bell. The serial number is in the 22XXX range but apparently Fischer's records have been lost so no idea on the age. No case but has two mouthpieces. Full of gunge, nickel-silver. I've asked for some photos & other details which I will post upon receipt.

Any idea (wild "donkey" guess) as to possible value? (collector or otherwise... it might be fun to haul one of these out of the gig bag some day!) Ebay isn't exactly rife with sales of "cornas"!

trumpetdoc

A right handed "french horn" looking instrument with piston valves? It's a mellophone. Not much value in them these days. A lot of public schools have them sitting around in basements collecting dust.

Tootsall

You could be right and I'm waiting for pictures to see however it was described as "quite a bit smaller than a french horn" and as I recall a Mellophone is a pretty big honker nigh onto the same size as a french horn. Still, the mouthpiece description makes me wonder. I reckon we'll see in the next few days.

W Scott

Ed, just a guess but I would say that it's probably an 'over the shoulder' cornet/trumpet. Another term for 'em is 'backward blasters'. These were popular during the time of the civil war when the bands would lead the troops. The bell pointed backwards so the troops could hear the music. Rotaries were the fad over here at that time. If it is an 'over the shoulder', and in good shape, it could be worth (SWAG) up to $2000---maybe even more. Dale Proctor on this forum is the expert on these and plays in a period correct brass band.

Bill

Brian H. Smout

Hi Ed,

An older mellophone will take a cornet m/p although it will sound better with an original mello m/p. As for its usefulness, its great if its an Eb/F horn and can be used to sub for French horn parts when there are too many trumpet players!

Cheers,

Brian

P.S. The snow is waist deep here and its minus 35 with the wind chill!

trumpetnick

Mellophones are made also with rotary...never tried a piston valve though. I played on B flat right hand 4 rotary vavles horn which was quite fine....I loved it that much, that I wrote a wind octet (fl/bass flute, cl, ob, bassoon, C trp, C trp/melophone in B lfat, trombon and tuba). I know that these are used for some high french horn parts in bach cantatas...

Liad Bar-EL

Whatever it is, Tootsall, you could increase the value of it tremendously if you put it in your attic for your great grandchildren to find. You might want to stick a dated note in the bell that you posted this message on the TM trumpet forum and that nobody knew what it was.

I think it would be cool to have one like Gottfried Reiche had without valves but then again having chops like his would do fine on any instrument that we have today.

How long are you going to keep us suspense about this? When will you know?

Liad

londonhusker

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Liad Bar-EL

Please give me a link. Please excuse my ignorance, but is he a plumber?

Of course this comes with an instruction booklet on how to get ALL the notes right on dead center, right?

Liad

londonhusker

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