Orchestral horn. Nominal pitch: F etc.
(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
(Note: Each icon above opens in a new tab.)
InstrumentValve horn |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerC Mahillon |
Date Made1878 - c 1900 |
DescriptionTechnical description: Orchestral horn of French pattern with two detachable Périnet valves (uninscribed, but original in style), and a second set of three detachable Périnet valves by Higham, of slightly narrower bore. The style of the instrument is typically late 19th century. Windway (with 3-valve set) runs: crook receiver - m.t.s. - 1 - 2 - 3 - bell. Valve units only incorporate one section of the main tubing so that when valves are inserted, although they are secured by a ligature, they rock because they are not braced to opposite branch tube. When assembled as a hand horn, a single piece of tube takes the place of the valve section. Metal construction: yellow brass, angle between axis of mouthpipe / crook receiver and axis of bell 126°; single-seamed bell, wired bell rim, no garland; remainder of tubing seamed. Body length of extension: 123. With 5 crooks apparently from a French set with short mouthpiece ferrules (1874a) - (1874e) and a set with longer mouthpiece ferrules, possibly English (1874f) - (1874h); also a small coupler (1874i) which gives E♮ with the F crooks. Valve type: Long-stem Périnet valves. Short type tuning-slide for use with A and longer crooks. Repair History: French F crook is extensively patched; there are 3 large patches in silver and one smaller one in brass. These seem well executed. Overhauled by Lawback Bros in 1952. Overall size: Corpus diameter 325; bell diameter 281. Sounding length: segment lengths: from distal end of mp ferrule to proximal ferrule of tuning slide 285; from distal end of tuning slide ferrule 496; bell segment 946. Overall air column length of crooks (1874a) 418, (1874b) 554, (1874c) 901, (1874d) 1296, (1874e) 1477, (1874f) 976, (1874g) 1300, (1874h) 1470, of coupler (1874i) 243. Bore: m.t.s. 11.0; extension piece for use as natural horn 11.0; v.t.s. (2 valve set) 11.0; v.t.s. (3 valve set) 10.8; 84mm from bell end, 89.5. Bell flare:- Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. of crooks (1874a) 7.5 at end, (1874b) 7.6 at end, (1874c) 7.5 at end, (1874d) 8.2 at end, (1874e) 7.5 at end, (1874f) 8.3 at end, (1874g) 8.3 at end, (1874h) 8.3 at end; external tapers of crooks (1874a) 11.9 - 12.5, (1874b) 11.8 - 12.5, (1874c) 11.9 - 12.6, (1874d) 11.8 - 12.5, (1874e) 11.8 - 12.5, (1874f) 11.8 - 12.5, (1874g) 11.9 - 12.5, (1874h) 11.8 - 12.5. Crook receiver taper of coupler (1874i) 12.5 - 11.8; external taper of coupler (1874i) 11.9 - 12.4. Crook receiver taper on body 12.6 - 11.8. Inscribed on bell "GOLD MEDAL / PARIS 1878 / C. MAHILLON / LONDON / & / BRUSSELS" with Royal Coat of Arms on a plaque including "ED. HOPPE". Three valve set inscribed "J. HIGHAM LTD / MAKER / MANCHESTER" and "E / 564". Crooks inscribed (1874a) "Bb", (1874b) "A", (1874c) "G", (1874d) "F", (1874e) "E"; crooks stamped on plaques (1874f) "G", (1874g) "# F HAWKES & SON", (1874h) "b F"; coupler (1874i) labelled "SEMI TONE". In wooden rectangular wooden case painted black and with internal compartments for horn, 10 crooks, the two valve unit, two mouthpieces and extension piece for use as a natural horn. Usable pitch: Plays at A4 = 440 Hz with "b F" crook, with main tuning slide pulled out c 20mm. Performance characteristics: Excellent playing instrument with full tone, even response and good intonation on "b F" crook. Purchased by lender with, probably formerly used with and possibly supplied by manufacturer with mouthpiece (1875); also purchased by lender with and probably formerly used with mouthpiece (2993). |
NotesP.Lewis, 1987; R.Parks, 16.03.91, 17.2.96. |
MeasurementsCorpus diameter 325; bell diameter 281. |
Provenanceex- Michael Whewell collection. ; on loan to the Collection. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number1874 |