McFadden "Conic Acoustic Cornet" in Bb
George McFadden had set up his factory to make cornets in Syracuse,
New York by 1875 although he had previously built cornets in
Worcester, Massachusetts. For the story of his earlier shop see the
restoration page for a McFadden and Beaumont cornet. McFadden was
able to get his operation running quickly enough to exhibit at the
Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. This cornet contains the engraved
announcement that he was "Awarded Medal of Merit and Diploma of
Honor". It is believed that McFadden made only a handful of cornets
before this and that this is the second one made after the exhibition. It
was always a small operation but managed to remain in business even
after his death in 1889 by his wife and son. The design of this "Conic
Acoustic Cornet" is somewhat unique in the long and very gradually
tapering mouthpipe. An independent design ethic was also expressed in
the look of the valve caps, braces, pull knobs and ferrules and it seems
likely that all of the parts of this cornet were made within the McFadden
workshop. It is of a high quality construction and seems to be a very
good playing cornet as well.
The silver and gold plated finish are original and this instrument must
not have seen much use. It needed no restoration work at all and retains
it's original case containing all the parts that came with it: Bb and A
shanks, two bits, mouthpiece and lyre. The case interior has obviously
been recovered. The elaborate engraving includes grapes, vines, leaves
and a bird along with more conventionalized designs covering most of
the surface. This must have been an expensive instrument to have
made in 1876. It is 12 1/4" long, has a bell rim diameter of 5" and the
bore measures .467".
New York by 1875 although he had previously built cornets in
Worcester, Massachusetts. For the story of his earlier shop see the
restoration page for a McFadden and Beaumont cornet. McFadden was
able to get his operation running quickly enough to exhibit at the
Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. This cornet contains the engraved
announcement that he was "Awarded Medal of Merit and Diploma of
Honor". It is believed that McFadden made only a handful of cornets
before this and that this is the second one made after the exhibition. It
was always a small operation but managed to remain in business even
after his death in 1889 by his wife and son. The design of this "Conic
Acoustic Cornet" is somewhat unique in the long and very gradually
tapering mouthpipe. An independent design ethic was also expressed in
the look of the valve caps, braces, pull knobs and ferrules and it seems
likely that all of the parts of this cornet were made within the McFadden
workshop. It is of a high quality construction and seems to be a very
good playing cornet as well.
The silver and gold plated finish are original and this instrument must
not have seen much use. It needed no restoration work at all and retains
it's original case containing all the parts that came with it: Bb and A
shanks, two bits, mouthpiece and lyre. The case interior has obviously
been recovered. The elaborate engraving includes grapes, vines, leaves
and a bird along with more conventionalized designs covering most of
the surface. This must have been an expensive instrument to have
made in 1876. It is 12 1/4" long, has a bell rim diameter of 5" and the
bore measures .467".
