| Isaac Fiske Piston Valve Cornet New biographical information in the third paragraph. |
Among the early American brass instrument makers, Isaac Fiske was
probably the last to make piston valve cornets available to his
customers. He had been making a full line of rotary valve
instruments since the early 1850s and earlier styles a decade before
that. In the late 1860s, his answer to the change of fashion in
cornets was to design a rotary valve mechanism that put the
instrument in the same ergonomic position as those with Perinet
piston valves. These pushrod actuated valves had the added benefits
of a shorter stroke and all the superior mechanical and acoustical
qualities that were always available in Fiske's instruments. Fiske was
certainly still loosing market share both because the mode was
increasingly French style cornets, and also because good quality
instruments were becoming less expensive from both overseas
makers and the newly emerging US market leader, C.G. Conn. It is
well known, of course, that Conn bought Fiske's shop in 1887.
Nothing concrete is known about when Fiske first had supplied
piston valve cornets, but it was most likely in the late 1870s or early
1880s. The Fiske shop produced fairly large numbers of very high
quality rotary valve instruments at prices competitive with other high
quality makers. This would lead one to believe that it wouldn't be
difficult to make the changes needed to produce Perinet piston
valves. There are only about four examples known to exist and this
is the first one that I've ever had in my hands. After closely studying
this cornet, I have become convinced that Fiske did not make this
valve section. Most new model piston valve cornets introduced in
the 1860s and 1870s were copies, more or less, of the Courtois
cornets being played by most of the world's most famous soloists.
The fourth photo down on the left is this Fiske cornet next to
Matthew Arbuckle's own cornet. I compared this to several Courtois
cornets from the same era and the valve section parts are
interchangeable. That includes the top and bottom caps, buttons,
stems and even the pistons. The bore size of this cornet is the same
as the Arban Model which is different in the third valve design but
the first two slides were also interchangeable. The overall design of
this cornet is very much like the Levy, Arbuckle, Koenig and
Emerson models made by Courtois and I could easily conclude,
based on what I've just said that the entire instrument was made by
Courtois, but there are some unique parts as well. The most easily
identified are the main tuning slide brace and two other braces as well
as the waterkey lever mount and screw. The seams in the main
tuning slide crook and the bell are constructed in the manner that
Fiske utilized and not like those by Courtois. I can only conclude
that Fiske purchased valve sections from Courtois for use in his
production of his Courtois copy.
probably the last to make piston valve cornets available to his
customers. He had been making a full line of rotary valve
instruments since the early 1850s and earlier styles a decade before
that. In the late 1860s, his answer to the change of fashion in
cornets was to design a rotary valve mechanism that put the
instrument in the same ergonomic position as those with Perinet
piston valves. These pushrod actuated valves had the added benefits
of a shorter stroke and all the superior mechanical and acoustical
qualities that were always available in Fiske's instruments. Fiske was
certainly still loosing market share both because the mode was
increasingly French style cornets, and also because good quality
instruments were becoming less expensive from both overseas
makers and the newly emerging US market leader, C.G. Conn. It is
well known, of course, that Conn bought Fiske's shop in 1887.
Nothing concrete is known about when Fiske first had supplied
piston valve cornets, but it was most likely in the late 1870s or early
1880s. The Fiske shop produced fairly large numbers of very high
quality rotary valve instruments at prices competitive with other high
quality makers. This would lead one to believe that it wouldn't be
difficult to make the changes needed to produce Perinet piston
valves. There are only about four examples known to exist and this
is the first one that I've ever had in my hands. After closely studying
this cornet, I have become convinced that Fiske did not make this
valve section. Most new model piston valve cornets introduced in
the 1860s and 1870s were copies, more or less, of the Courtois
cornets being played by most of the world's most famous soloists.
The fourth photo down on the left is this Fiske cornet next to
Matthew Arbuckle's own cornet. I compared this to several Courtois
cornets from the same era and the valve section parts are
interchangeable. That includes the top and bottom caps, buttons,
stems and even the pistons. The bore size of this cornet is the same
as the Arban Model which is different in the third valve design but
the first two slides were also interchangeable. The overall design of
this cornet is very much like the Levy, Arbuckle, Koenig and
Emerson models made by Courtois and I could easily conclude,
based on what I've just said that the entire instrument was made by
Courtois, but there are some unique parts as well. The most easily
identified are the main tuning slide brace and two other braces as well
as the waterkey lever mount and screw. The seams in the main
tuning slide crook and the bell are constructed in the manner that
Fiske utilized and not like those by Courtois. I can only conclude
that Fiske purchased valve sections from Courtois for use in his
production of his Courtois copy.
Click on images for larger views.
I was able to purchase this cornet from the family of the original
owner, John Toy. The family was also able to provide copies of
four photos of bands that he played in. I've included two of these
photos to the right. In the first Mr. Toy is in the top row, second
from the left and in the second he is in the bottom row, third from
the left. The first is obviously earlier, probably taken about 1880,
when I suspect that this cornet was very new. John Toy was born in
England in 1856 and emigrated to the US in 1873 when he was 17
years old. Here he married an English girl and headed west to settle
in Grass Valley, California, one of many towns that sprung to life in
1848 during the gold rush. The rush was over by 1855, but Grass
Valley maintained some prosperity in the late 19th century. In the
1900 census, most of the Toy's neighbors were listed as quartz
miners. John and Mary Toy raised 8 children in Grass Valley.
Besides playing in the band, John Toy was active in his community
as a member of the Knights of Pythias and made his living as a
saloon keeper. We are very fortunate that the family kept these
heirlooms after John's death in 1929.
Even though this cornet was used extensively, it was cared for well
enough that it is well preserved. I removed a number of dents and
the valves are a bit loose, but it is still an excellent playing instrument.
The Silver plated finish is original and mostly intact. It retains its
original case and all of its parts other than an A shank. The curved
tubing seen lying in front of the cornet in the second photo and
installed on it in the third changes the pitch to C. With the normal
Bb tuning slide in place, the valve slides need to be extended to a
scribed mark for the correct Bb lengths. The two mouthpieces are
original as well. The gold plated mouthpiece has a rubber rim and
Conn's patent stamped on the shank. This could have been made in
either shop and I have seen a number of unsigned, patented
mouthpieces of this type in Fiske cornet cases. The other
mouthpiece appears to be a Fiske Eb cornet mouthpiece that has had
the shank filed to fit deeply into the mouthpipe shank. Perhaps the
original owner used this mouthpiece for playing the cornet in C. The
overall length, with mouthpiece removed is 13 3/8", the bell rim
diameter measures 4 13/16" and the bore is .463"
owner, John Toy. The family was also able to provide copies of
four photos of bands that he played in. I've included two of these
photos to the right. In the first Mr. Toy is in the top row, second
from the left and in the second he is in the bottom row, third from
the left. The first is obviously earlier, probably taken about 1880,
when I suspect that this cornet was very new. John Toy was born in
England in 1856 and emigrated to the US in 1873 when he was 17
years old. Here he married an English girl and headed west to settle
in Grass Valley, California, one of many towns that sprung to life in
1848 during the gold rush. The rush was over by 1855, but Grass
Valley maintained some prosperity in the late 19th century. In the
1900 census, most of the Toy's neighbors were listed as quartz
miners. John and Mary Toy raised 8 children in Grass Valley.
Besides playing in the band, John Toy was active in his community
as a member of the Knights of Pythias and made his living as a
saloon keeper. We are very fortunate that the family kept these
heirlooms after John's death in 1929.
Even though this cornet was used extensively, it was cared for well
enough that it is well preserved. I removed a number of dents and
the valves are a bit loose, but it is still an excellent playing instrument.
The Silver plated finish is original and mostly intact. It retains its
original case and all of its parts other than an A shank. The curved
tubing seen lying in front of the cornet in the second photo and
installed on it in the third changes the pitch to C. With the normal
Bb tuning slide in place, the valve slides need to be extended to a
scribed mark for the correct Bb lengths. The two mouthpieces are
original as well. The gold plated mouthpiece has a rubber rim and
Conn's patent stamped on the shank. This could have been made in
either shop and I have seen a number of unsigned, patented
mouthpieces of this type in Fiske cornet cases. The other
mouthpiece appears to be a Fiske Eb cornet mouthpiece that has had
the shank filed to fit deeply into the mouthpipe shank. Perhaps the
original owner used this mouthpiece for playing the cornet in C. The
overall length, with mouthpiece removed is 13 3/8", the bell rim
diameter measures 4 13/16" and the bore is .463"
