Bass Ophicleide in C by Jules Martin
Jules Martin may not have been an actual maker of brass
instruments and wasn't likely related to the several other
Martin families known to be makers. It is known that he
was a dealer of musical merchandise in Paris between
1855 and 1876. The address stamped on the bell date this
ophicleide between 1868 and 1873. By this date,
ophicleides weren't used much in military bands or society
orchestras but mostly in opera orchestras playing the parts
written for them and in churches that didn't have organs. I
don't know anything of the history of the particular
instrument other than that it was victim of a failed
restoration attempt and came to me disassembled with
numerous parts damaged or missing and everything
severely etched with acid. It is a decent playing
instrument with large bore and large tone holes, making it
fairly easy to play in tune and a pretty good low register.
It has ten keys and the E natural key opens two toneholes,
allowing that note to be played without opening the F key
in combination. I've come across several other French
ophicleides with the same key castings but obviously from
different makers including a Besson made before 1858
with the same double hole E key. These key blanks were
obviously available to smaller makers for use in their
production. This instrument is 42 3/8" long with a bell rim
diameter of 9 1/2".
Jules Martin history from William Waterhouse, The New
Langwill Index, Tony Bingham, 1993.
Click on images to view large photos.
instruments and wasn't likely related to the several other
Martin families known to be makers. It is known that he
was a dealer of musical merchandise in Paris between
1855 and 1876. The address stamped on the bell date this
ophicleide between 1868 and 1873. By this date,
ophicleides weren't used much in military bands or society
orchestras but mostly in opera orchestras playing the parts
written for them and in churches that didn't have organs. I
don't know anything of the history of the particular
instrument other than that it was victim of a failed
restoration attempt and came to me disassembled with
numerous parts damaged or missing and everything
severely etched with acid. It is a decent playing
instrument with large bore and large tone holes, making it
fairly easy to play in tune and a pretty good low register.
It has ten keys and the E natural key opens two toneholes,
allowing that note to be played without opening the F key
in combination. I've come across several other French
ophicleides with the same key castings but obviously from
different makers including a Besson made before 1858
with the same double hole E key. These key blanks were
obviously available to smaller makers for use in their
production. This instrument is 42 3/8" long with a bell rim
diameter of 9 1/2".
Jules Martin history from William Waterhouse, The New
Langwill Index, Tony Bingham, 1993.
Click on images to view large photos.