Henry Distin Tenor Flugelhorn, 1855
I restored this very early London made Distin alto for trumpet player
Louise Baranger about 25 years ago (see last photo on left). It was pretty
battered, but well preserved in most ways and plays quite nicely. It retains
most of the original silver plated finish, case, bit, shank for F and crooks
for E and Eb. The mouthpiece is from a later instrument, but appropriate
style and size. I guess that the additional storage holes in the case were for
two additional bits of different lengths and perhaps a second mouthpiece.
The two small holes near the crooks may have been for some sort of music
holder. The over all length with mouthpiece removed is 14 1/2", the bell
rim diameter is 6 1/2" and the bore measures .423". In addition to the
name stamp seen in the fifth photo down on the left is a trademark stamp
on the inside of the bell, almost hidden by the large tubing branch. This is
reminiscent of Adolphe Sax's monogram as seen on instruments from that
shop including the Sax cornet featured elsewhere on this site. This was
certainly a deluxe and expensive instrument for the time based on the silver
plating, plush case lining and leather covering. This is very likely the sort
of alto instrument that was being used by the Distin Family Quartet at the
time and the use of the name "flugelhorn" is interesting. Distin had recently
started using rotary valves along with Perinet piston valves and had
discontinued the Berlin piston valve instruments made by Sax that they had
sold previously. Henry had taken over the business from his father and
changed the business name to his name. This was also the time that they
started making their own instruments. Another, similar alto/tenor
instrument exists from about 1850 with the name "Le Famille Distin / T.
Distin, London" on the bell. In 1854, there were several London concerts
given by Distin's Flugel Horn Union, presumably a larger band of German
style brass instruments in trumpet form. Illustrated in Distin's 1857 catalog
is an instrument very much like this with the description: "Tenor flugelhorn
in F, Rotary-action Cylinders, with crooks for E and Eb". This alto could
easily be confused for a German or Austrian instrument, the mechanism
being the same, including the external lever spring tension adjuster. It is
known that Distin had imported piston valve sections from France for use
in his production and it seems at least as likely that this valve section was
purchased from a German or Austrian maker. Mitroulia (see below) also
reports that Distin had at least one German instrument maker under his
employ at the time. There is little doubt that Distin was expanding his
manufacturing capacity and was making his own piston valve sections from
about this time on. The supplying of rotary valve instruments seems short
lived, other styles having become well established domestically. I feature
three Distin cornets on this website, including a Bb cornet made in London
almost fifteen years later.
Most of the historical facts above come from the most recent and best
research on Adolphe Sax, by Eugenia Mitroulia, and includes an extensive
chapter on Distin. For those interested in the history of brass instruments, I
highly recommend reading this dissertation.
Louise Baranger about 25 years ago (see last photo on left). It was pretty
battered, but well preserved in most ways and plays quite nicely. It retains
most of the original silver plated finish, case, bit, shank for F and crooks
for E and Eb. The mouthpiece is from a later instrument, but appropriate
style and size. I guess that the additional storage holes in the case were for
two additional bits of different lengths and perhaps a second mouthpiece.
The two small holes near the crooks may have been for some sort of music
holder. The over all length with mouthpiece removed is 14 1/2", the bell
rim diameter is 6 1/2" and the bore measures .423". In addition to the
name stamp seen in the fifth photo down on the left is a trademark stamp
on the inside of the bell, almost hidden by the large tubing branch. This is
reminiscent of Adolphe Sax's monogram as seen on instruments from that
shop including the Sax cornet featured elsewhere on this site. This was
certainly a deluxe and expensive instrument for the time based on the silver
plating, plush case lining and leather covering. This is very likely the sort
of alto instrument that was being used by the Distin Family Quartet at the
time and the use of the name "flugelhorn" is interesting. Distin had recently
started using rotary valves along with Perinet piston valves and had
discontinued the Berlin piston valve instruments made by Sax that they had
sold previously. Henry had taken over the business from his father and
changed the business name to his name. This was also the time that they
started making their own instruments. Another, similar alto/tenor
instrument exists from about 1850 with the name "Le Famille Distin / T.
Distin, London" on the bell. In 1854, there were several London concerts
given by Distin's Flugel Horn Union, presumably a larger band of German
style brass instruments in trumpet form. Illustrated in Distin's 1857 catalog
is an instrument very much like this with the description: "Tenor flugelhorn
in F, Rotary-action Cylinders, with crooks for E and Eb". This alto could
easily be confused for a German or Austrian instrument, the mechanism
being the same, including the external lever spring tension adjuster. It is
known that Distin had imported piston valve sections from France for use
in his production and it seems at least as likely that this valve section was
purchased from a German or Austrian maker. Mitroulia (see below) also
reports that Distin had at least one German instrument maker under his
employ at the time. There is little doubt that Distin was expanding his
manufacturing capacity and was making his own piston valve sections from
about this time on. The supplying of rotary valve instruments seems short
lived, other styles having become well established domestically. I feature
three Distin cornets on this website, including a Bb cornet made in London
almost fifteen years later.
Most of the historical facts above come from the most recent and best
research on Adolphe Sax, by Eugenia Mitroulia, and includes an extensive
chapter on Distin. For those interested in the history of brass instruments, I
highly recommend reading this dissertation.
| Click on images for larger views. |