hawkman

I just opened a trumpet case that I've had for over 40 years (I don't even remember where I got it in the first place - has a sticker from my college on it). From what I can tell from a cursory examination, it is a Conn Victor New Wonder cornet ser# 178904 with mute, music holder and a Vincent Bach 10 1/2 mouthpiece. Web search turns up a couple of similar instruments circa 1918. The finish is very tarnished silver, with dings on the bell and a couple of the tubes.
I was a sax player back when and don't know anything about brass, other than being very suspicious of trombone players. This has a wonderfully Jules Verne quality to it (slides, knurling engraving, various threaded adjustments and bosses, etc. ).
How can I find out more about the instrument? Is it valuable? Should it be restored? How would I sell it?
John Hawkins
California

MFfan

Welcome to the Forum. You have a good cornet to investigate. Vintage cornet market is hard to judge as to value of any particular one. Here is a start. The connloyalist is the best repository of Conn lore.
The Conn Loyalist

info_vintage_cornet_cornets

Here is another good one above.

I can echo your suspicions of Trombone players.
The Cornet Compendium: History and Development of the 19th Century Cornet Here is another scholary work with a good Conn section.

You might try the advanced search on Ebay for completed listings on any sales.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
1953 Olds Ambassador (LA)
1966 Besson 2-20 (Silver)
Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?)
55-56 York Artist Trumpet
Besson 609 trumpet
1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet
1948 Besson cornet
1946 King Master Cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

Peter McNeill

Hi,
I have a 1930 Conn New Wonder Cornet Ser.No. 2753xx, and it is a delight to play. Very mellow.
It is great to see old cornets/trumpets kept in playable condition, it adds some soul to the collection.
Cheers

__________________
Peter
Got My OLDS RECORDING....
"This will be my last" - I told my better-half.
I may nick-name her "Killer Queen" to soften the hit I expect....

Bflatman

Hi and congratulations on that cornet,

I am assuming you have the New Wonder Cornet that was later renamed 80A, it has an hourglass tuning device next to the number one valve if it is.

They made several versions of this cornet in differnet bore sizes and configurations, I have the large bore 80A model without mechanism, the mechanism is a group of linkages that resets the slides as the main tuning slide is adjusted, many players remove this mechanism as they feel it to be an encumberance.

If you do have an 80A Dont sell it! they dont appear to be worth much in money terms, but are great players with a unique sound and playability. You need to know about the mouthpiece though.

Conn had its own leadpipe taper up until about 1955, they then changed to the "normal" taper. This means that your leadpipe wont fit normal mouthpieces properly, modern mouthpices will wobble in the leadpipe, so you either put up with it or you try to get hold of a pre 1955 conn mp. Most players dont seem to mind the wobble.

Also you should get a few different mouthpieces, with this instrument as you change the mouthpiece, the character of the sound changes, a shallow mouthpice yields a brighter sound, a deeper cup yields a darker more mellow sound.

I think you have a wonderful instrument and it should give many years of enjoyment, well worth looking after.

regards Brian

__________________
The only place that "Results" comes before "Work", is in the dictionary.

"I aint squealing till Ive seen my mouthpiece"

2001 Yamaha YCR2330II Cornet
1954 Conn 80A Cornet
1976 Boosey & Hawkes Regent Cornet
1916 Boosey & Co A/Bb Silbron Class A Trumpet
1930's Monarch A/Bb Trumpet
1950's Comet unknown European Trumpet

Boosey 8A Trumpet mpc
Yamaha 11B4 Trumpet mpc
Yamaha 11F4 Cornet mpc
Denis Wick 4B Cornet mpc
Conn 4 Cornet mpc

zentrails

I share your attitude about trombone players, my brother in law is one.
I have several New Wonders that old or newer. If it's in decent shape you can put it up for sale on ebay and get $200+ for it. A little less if it's an 80A like someone else said.

I love playing all of mine. They're all great horns including the 80A's. It would make a great gift if you happen to know a cornet player.