Bombardon. Nominal pitch: E♭.

Antoine Courtois
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Photo by Raymond Parks © The University of Edinburgh

Alternative Title

Saxhorn contrebasse.

Instrument

Contrabass saxhorn

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Antoine Courtois

Date Made

1855-1865

Description

3 valves. Instrument is marked with a trademark "AS autorisé, A.C.", which suggests that the instrument was made by Antoine Courtois after the model of Adolphe Sax. It therefore dates between 1855 and 1865, when the patent for the saxhorn fell into public use. Technical description: Brass. 3 valves. Tall narrow wrap with ungusseted small bell. 1st valve: tone. 2nd valve: semitone 3rd valve: major 3rd (doigté ministériel tuning). Valve type: 3 Périnet valves. Repair History: Valve top caps, touchpieces and springs replacements 1970-1. Surface protection conservation treatment carried out by Helen Moody, 1988-9. Overall size: 870; bell 264. Sounding length: minimum 3959. Bore: mouthpipe at c 45mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 12.75; m.t.s. at c 513mm and at c 716mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 14.6; centre of valve cluster at c 957mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (1,2,3) 14.6; 1980mm from bell end, c 32.7; c 1495mm from bell end, 46.25. B = 0.44. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 13.1 - 12.8. Inscribed on bell "20" and on back "SAXHORN / 5235" with "AS AUTORISE A.C. PARIS" in trademark; inscribed on valves "1", "2", "3"; inscribed "H" on mouthpipe. General literature references: Haine 1980 81. Usable pitch: With tuning slide in, plays c 10 - 15 cents above A4 = 440 Hz. Performance characteristics: Best with 1st and 2nd valves interchanged, until 10.4.73. Best with euphonium mouthpiece. Warm ophicleide like sound. Good response in low register. Despite 4 semitone 3rd valve, Ab1 not possible. From same source as (611). Specific literature references: Haine 1980 81 p.200. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.138; Myers 1991, Plate 13; Myers 2000, p.160. Specific usage history: One of a pair reputed to have been used by the Royal Scots Volunteer Band.

Other Information

Specific usage history: One of a pair reputed to have been used by the Royal Scots Volunteer Band.

Notes

N. Parks; R. Parks, 2.1.92; A. Myers, bore 27.3.98 and 14.11.09; C. Bevan, 1.12.90.

Measurements

870; bell 264.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

2107

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