Basset horn. Nominal pitch: F.

Thomas Key

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Instrument

Basset horn

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Thomas Key

Place Made

England ; London ; Europe ; United Kingdom

Date Made

Circa 1820

Description

Technical description: Stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, angled brass crook, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys, bell. Mouthpiece (socket type) with a long table, ligature and metal cap not original. Crook of brass, curved, with tenon at top and heavy socket at bottom. Upper section: Two side keys in saddles (Throat A♭, F/C♮). Straight speaker key, liner projects into bore. Blocks of speaker and trill key pinned for strength. Middle section has a sling-ring, also a cork pad for the thumb. Lower section: blocks of all bascule keys pinned. Bell-shaped swelling. Spectacle mounted with brass pillars. Bell of usual clarinet shape but much larger. No rim to bell. 13 keys plus spectacle and 2 basset keys. Rollers on four little-finger keys. L0: T; Speaker, spatulate touch, liner projects to centre of bore. L1: T; A♮, spatulate touch. L2: T; A♭, in saddle, slender with curved touch. L3: T; B♭. L4: G♯; B♮ bascule; C♯. R0: Low D♮ bascule; low C♮ bascule. R1: T; A♮/B♮ trill, touch slightly curved; C♮, in saddle, slender with curved touch. R2: T; F♯; added spectacle closes F♯ key originally under R4. R3: T; F♮; spectacle ring as above. R4: E♭; C♮ bascule. Keymount type: blocks, key-swelling, saddles and pillars. Keyhead type: flat, round. Overall size: Height c 1000. Bore: Crook, 14.5; other sections all 15.2. Stamped on the three sections "KEY / LONDON" / unicorn head; stamped on the bell "KEY / LONDON" / unicorn head / "CHARING CROSS". Repair History: The mouthpiece is a replacement. Usable pitch: A₄ = c 444 hz. Performance characteristics: A superb instrument. Specific literature references: Rendall 1954, pp.138 9; Weston 1971, pp.255 259; G.S. (1951) No. 133; G.S. (1968) No. 196. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.102; Rendall 1954, plate III; Weston 1971, plate 29.

Notes

T.K. Dibley, 1992, August 1991; H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

Height c 1000.

Provenance

Henry Lazarus (1815-1895).

Collection

MIMEd ; Rendall Collection

Accession Number

0092