E.G. Wright started building brass instruments in Boston
about 1840. This Eb cornet was made towards the end of his
life in 1868. It was presented to Henry Hanson in Arlington,
Mass, the leader of the local town band by members of the
band. Today it is hard to imagine a world without the many
choices that we have for entertainment but every town of any
size had at least one band and the leader was considered a
leading citizen of the town. While the area had been settled
by Europeans in the early 17th century, the population was
just over 3000 and the town had just changed its name from
West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867.
This cornet came to me in well preserved condition, with it's
original mouthpiece and mouthpipe shank. It would have
originally had crooks to D and C, judging by the fact that the
second slide is removable. This was only the case in Wrights
Eb instruments that were intended to be crooked to lower
keys as well. It also retains the original presentation
document. It is extremely rare to find such documents.
Today we might think of an instrument of these proportions
as a trumpet but during the golden age of brass bands it was
the Eb cornet that provided the soprano voice in American
bands. This narrow bell model was called the "Leader's
Pattern". It is made of German silver, with three side action
rotary valves of .421" bore and bell diameter of 4 7/8".
Length with mouthpipe shank removed is 11 7/8".
about 1840. This Eb cornet was made towards the end of his
life in 1868. It was presented to Henry Hanson in Arlington,
Mass, the leader of the local town band by members of the
band. Today it is hard to imagine a world without the many
choices that we have for entertainment but every town of any
size had at least one band and the leader was considered a
leading citizen of the town. While the area had been settled
by Europeans in the early 17th century, the population was
just over 3000 and the town had just changed its name from
West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867.
This cornet came to me in well preserved condition, with it's
original mouthpiece and mouthpipe shank. It would have
originally had crooks to D and C, judging by the fact that the
second slide is removable. This was only the case in Wrights
Eb instruments that were intended to be crooked to lower
keys as well. It also retains the original presentation
document. It is extremely rare to find such documents.
Today we might think of an instrument of these proportions
as a trumpet but during the golden age of brass bands it was
the Eb cornet that provided the soprano voice in American
bands. This narrow bell model was called the "Leader's
Pattern". It is made of German silver, with three side action
rotary valves of .421" bore and bell diameter of 4 7/8".
Length with mouthpipe shank removed is 11 7/8".
Eb cornet by E.G. Wright in Boston, 1868