Eb Valve Bugle by Hall & Quinby, Boston
Sometimes called cornet, flugelhorn or Saxhorn, this was the most
popular style of soprano brass instrument in US bands of the 1850s
and 1860s. This example was made at the end of that era in about
1868. It is made of copper with German silver trim and valve
mechanism. The copper was a holdover from the keyed bugle, in
which this was the most common material. The valves are Allen
flat windway rotary with top action levers.
It had obviously suffered a very rough life and was missing a few
important parts but the owner, Steven Ward wanted it done right.
Fortunately, I've worked on a few of these in the past and knew the
exact design of the missing tuning shank. It was important to save
the split tubes by silver soldering the seams and I had to draw tubing
to replace a missing piece. Making the missing crook was quite a
challenge, not having the tooling to make the exact part. I was able
to make the crook using existing tooling and modifying that part to
the correct size. The result was not only a beautiful display piece,
but an excellent playing instrument.
Click on images for larger views.
popular style of soprano brass instrument in US bands of the 1850s
and 1860s. This example was made at the end of that era in about
1868. It is made of copper with German silver trim and valve
mechanism. The copper was a holdover from the keyed bugle, in
which this was the most common material. The valves are Allen
flat windway rotary with top action levers.
It had obviously suffered a very rough life and was missing a few
important parts but the owner, Steven Ward wanted it done right.
Fortunately, I've worked on a few of these in the past and knew the
exact design of the missing tuning shank. It was important to save
the split tubes by silver soldering the seams and I had to draw tubing
to replace a missing piece. Making the missing crook was quite a
challenge, not having the tooling to make the exact part. I was able
to make the crook using existing tooling and modifying that part to
the correct size. The result was not only a beautiful display piece,
but an excellent playing instrument.
Click on images for larger views.
