Boston Circular Soprano
This is another from Steve Ward's growing collection of important American
brass instruments. It is the only known example of a circular Eb soprano
valve bugle (flugelhorn or saxhorn) made by The Boston Musical Instrument
Manufactory. These are illustrated in the 1869 Boston catalog, but nobody
had seen one until this surfaced. These were going out of fashion by the time
that it was made; their heyday was for about 10 years starting in the early
1850s. Presumably, this was a continuation of E.G. Wright's design, but I
don't believe that there are any of those extant. After the Boston signature,
the engraving reads "Late E.G. Wright & Co. Boston", which seems only to
have been included for the first year or two of the new company. There is at
least one Wright from the earlier era that I feature on this site. Styles were
changing and the more modern cornet style instruments were quickly taking
the place of these. The proportions of this instrument are not quite as
pleasing to my eye as most earlier circular instruments, which tend to be
some of my favorites. This instrument had been taken apart for repairs
previously, and it is possible that the damage an repairs have left the curved
tubing a little off.
Removing the dents from the curved tubing was the biggest challenge in this
restoration, partially due to some extremely thin areas, presumably caused by
excessive removal of metal during the previous repairs. Once back together,
however, it is a beautiful instrument and an excellent player. As in other Eb
soprano valve bugles and cornets from this era, the bore size is .422".
Click on images to the left for larger views.
brass instruments. It is the only known example of a circular Eb soprano
valve bugle (flugelhorn or saxhorn) made by The Boston Musical Instrument
Manufactory. These are illustrated in the 1869 Boston catalog, but nobody
had seen one until this surfaced. These were going out of fashion by the time
that it was made; their heyday was for about 10 years starting in the early
1850s. Presumably, this was a continuation of E.G. Wright's design, but I
don't believe that there are any of those extant. After the Boston signature,
the engraving reads "Late E.G. Wright & Co. Boston", which seems only to
have been included for the first year or two of the new company. There is at
least one Wright from the earlier era that I feature on this site. Styles were
changing and the more modern cornet style instruments were quickly taking
the place of these. The proportions of this instrument are not quite as
pleasing to my eye as most earlier circular instruments, which tend to be
some of my favorites. This instrument had been taken apart for repairs
previously, and it is possible that the damage an repairs have left the curved
tubing a little off.
Removing the dents from the curved tubing was the biggest challenge in this
restoration, partially due to some extremely thin areas, presumably caused by
excessive removal of metal during the previous repairs. Once back together,
however, it is a beautiful instrument and an excellent player. As in other Eb
soprano valve bugles and cornets from this era, the bore size is .422".
Click on images to the left for larger views.