| A Prussian Cornet from Poland and a Swedish Cornet from Norway |
This form of valve bugle or flugelhorn with notably little
flare in the bell, is known to us as a Prussian cornet and
would serve the same purpose as the flugelhorn or cornet
in military bands and the like. The earliest successful
valved brass instruments seem to have originated in
Prussia before 1820 and were patented there in 1818 by
Friedrich Blühmel and Heinrich Stölzel. The patent covers
rectangular section or "box" valves that otherwise function
the same as the cylidrical "Berliner" valves in this
instrument. The Berliner valve first became widely
popular in the 1830s by the maker Johann Gottfried
Moritz in collaboration with the band leader Wilhelm
Wieprecht and can also be seen on the German trumpet
and French Saxhorn also featured on this site.
The city of Stettin (the German name for Szczecin,
Poland's largest seaport today) had been part of Prussia
since the early 18th century and presumably, this was the
traditional soprano or alto voice in the military bands of
the region at the time it was made (1860s). The signature
on this instrument "C.H. Grimm" is so obscure that we
don't know what "C.H." abbreviates. While this could be
the maker's name, it could also be a dealer or music store.
This style of instrument had its greatest popularity in
Prussia from about 1840 until more modern German style
flugelhorns and trumpets took their place several decades
later. At the same time, very similar instruments were
standardized in Sweden and Norway and is where this
form of cornet or valve bugle lasted the longest and with
rotary valves it is called a Swedish cornet (kornett).
Copenhagen is just a boat ride away from Szczecin, across
the Baltic Sea. The last two photos below show an Eb
soprano Swedish cornet made (or at least sold originally)
in Oslo, Norway by William Farre in the 1930s. Farre was
known to be a dealer and likely had instruments made to
his design in Germany. The best information on brass
instrumental music from this time and region is to be
found in Ann-Marie Nilsson's article "Brass Instruments in
Small Swedish Wind Ensembles in the Late 19th Century"
and Ed Tarr and Stewart Carter's "East Meets West, the
Russian Trumpet Tradition...". This cornet by Grimm
could have been made in the far north of Europe, but
might have been imported from one of the large German
or Austrian makers that were supplying the world with
brass instruments at the time. The flower and leaf
engraving that decorates the nickel silver garland is typical
of Saxon makers. Much research is yet to be done on this
subject.
This instrument has suffered much abuse and failed
repairs, but I decided that it was interesting enough to
preserve and restore. The valves are somewhat loose, but
it plays with thick oil on them. The existing mouthpiece
and shank for A came with the cornet and I believe that
they were used with it originally. The mouthpiece is very
much like one for a Bb keyed bugle, with a wide, flat rim
and funnel shaped cup. The over all length with
mouthpiece removed is 15 1/2", the bell rim diameter is 3
1/4" and the bore measures .454".
Also notable on this instrument is the name shield that was
engraved by an early (original?) owner of this cornet. The
name appears to be "Anton Stroinski" and he thought
enough to engrave the year as well. It seems likely that
this instrument was new in 1862. Stroinski is not an
uncommon Polish name. Indeed, a Google search
associates a number of people of that name with the city
today. I hope that a genealogical search leads Anton's
decedents to this page eventually.
Click on images for larger views.
flare in the bell, is known to us as a Prussian cornet and
would serve the same purpose as the flugelhorn or cornet
in military bands and the like. The earliest successful
valved brass instruments seem to have originated in
Prussia before 1820 and were patented there in 1818 by
Friedrich Blühmel and Heinrich Stölzel. The patent covers
rectangular section or "box" valves that otherwise function
the same as the cylidrical "Berliner" valves in this
instrument. The Berliner valve first became widely
popular in the 1830s by the maker Johann Gottfried
Moritz in collaboration with the band leader Wilhelm
Wieprecht and can also be seen on the German trumpet
and French Saxhorn also featured on this site.
The city of Stettin (the German name for Szczecin,
Poland's largest seaport today) had been part of Prussia
since the early 18th century and presumably, this was the
traditional soprano or alto voice in the military bands of
the region at the time it was made (1860s). The signature
on this instrument "C.H. Grimm" is so obscure that we
don't know what "C.H." abbreviates. While this could be
the maker's name, it could also be a dealer or music store.
This style of instrument had its greatest popularity in
Prussia from about 1840 until more modern German style
flugelhorns and trumpets took their place several decades
later. At the same time, very similar instruments were
standardized in Sweden and Norway and is where this
form of cornet or valve bugle lasted the longest and with
rotary valves it is called a Swedish cornet (kornett).
Copenhagen is just a boat ride away from Szczecin, across
the Baltic Sea. The last two photos below show an Eb
soprano Swedish cornet made (or at least sold originally)
in Oslo, Norway by William Farre in the 1930s. Farre was
known to be a dealer and likely had instruments made to
his design in Germany. The best information on brass
instrumental music from this time and region is to be
found in Ann-Marie Nilsson's article "Brass Instruments in
Small Swedish Wind Ensembles in the Late 19th Century"
and Ed Tarr and Stewart Carter's "East Meets West, the
Russian Trumpet Tradition...". This cornet by Grimm
could have been made in the far north of Europe, but
might have been imported from one of the large German
or Austrian makers that were supplying the world with
brass instruments at the time. The flower and leaf
engraving that decorates the nickel silver garland is typical
of Saxon makers. Much research is yet to be done on this
subject.
This instrument has suffered much abuse and failed
repairs, but I decided that it was interesting enough to
preserve and restore. The valves are somewhat loose, but
it plays with thick oil on them. The existing mouthpiece
and shank for A came with the cornet and I believe that
they were used with it originally. The mouthpiece is very
much like one for a Bb keyed bugle, with a wide, flat rim
and funnel shaped cup. The over all length with
mouthpiece removed is 15 1/2", the bell rim diameter is 3
1/4" and the bore measures .454".
Also notable on this instrument is the name shield that was
engraved by an early (original?) owner of this cornet. The
name appears to be "Anton Stroinski" and he thought
enough to engrave the year as well. It seems likely that
this instrument was new in 1862. Stroinski is not an
uncommon Polish name. Indeed, a Google search
associates a number of people of that name with the city
today. I hope that a genealogical search leads Anton's
decedents to this page eventually.
Click on images for larger views.
