Valve trombone in saxophone shape. Nominal pitch: B♭.
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Alternative TitleTenor Normaphon. |
InstrumentTenor trombone |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerRichard Oskar Heber |
Date MadeCirca 1928 |
Description3 valves. Technical description: nickel-plated brass; ligature tuning (first m.t.s.) at mouthpipe; water-key on second m.t.s. Valve type: 3 Périnet valves, bottom sprung; alignment by key on piston. Overall size: 840; bell 164. Sounding length: minimum 2601. Bore: crook at c 27mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 11.5; crook distal at c 340mm from mouthpiece receiver 11.8; m.t.s. at c 630mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 12.4; centre of valve cluster at c 1252mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (3,2,1) 12.3; at 1301mm from bell end, c 12.4; at c 818mm from bell end, 17.5; B = 0.66. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.0 - 11.5. Inscribed on side of bell "Normaphon" (with the right hand vertical of the initial N stylised to an ellipse surrounding the other letters) / "D.R.G.M.; on main branch at foot "0315"; on side of valve casings and top and bottom caps "4", "5", "6". Decorative features: mother of pearl buttons. With original fitted hard case. General usage of type: According to an advertisement for the Normaphon in a family of which the tenor was the third largest, `Die hohen Preise der Saxophone hält manche Kapellen ab, diese Instrumente anzuschaften. Und doch wird vom Publikum Saxophon Musik verlangt. Die Normaphon Instrumente biete bei ganz niedrigen Preisen Ersatz für die Saxophone. Zudem kann jeder Trompeter, Hornist, Bassist usw. ohne Umlernen diese Instrumente blasen, sind sie doch nichts anderes, als Trompeten, Althörner, Tenorhörner, und Es bezw. B Bässe nur in anderer Form ! Die neuartige Bauart verleiht den Instrumenten einem eigenartigen, dem Ohr angenehmen Ton. Moderne Kapellen sollten nicht zögern, diese Instrumente anzuschaffen.' Normaphones were offered in brass (Messing) or nickel plated (`hochfein vernickelt'). Purchased by lender with and probably formerly used with mouthpiece for trombone (4236). Specific usage history: The instrument was owned and played by Donald Falconer (1930 1960), pharmacist and dance band trumpeter of New Zealand, who brought the instrument to Balnagask near Aberdeen where he visited his family. Falconer played with several dance bands in New Zealand in the 1950s, so it is likely that the Normaphon was used as a doubling instrument. |
Other InformationGeneral usage of type: According to an advertisement for the Normaphon in a family of which the tenor was the third largest, `Die hohen Preise der Saxophone hält manche Kapellen ab, diese Instrumente anzuschaften. Und doch wird vom Publikum Saxophon-Musik verlangt. Die Normaphon-Instrumente biete bei ganz niedrigen Preisen Ersatz für die Saxophone. Zudem kann jeder Trompeter, Hornist, Bassist usw. ohne Umlernen diese Instrumente blasen, sind sie doch nichts anderes, als Trompeten, Althörner, Tenorhörner, und Es- bezw. B-Bässe nur in anderer Form ! Die neuartige Bauart verleiht den Instrumenten einem eigenartigen, dem Ohr angenehmen Ton. Moderne Kapellen sollten nicht zögern, diese Instrumente anzuschaffen.' Normaphones were offered in brass (Messing) or nickel-plated (`hochfein vernickelt'). Specific usage history: The instrument was owned and played by Donald Falconer (1930-1960), pharmacist and dance band trumpeter of New Zealand, who brought the instrument to Balnagask near Aberdeen where he visited his family. Falconer played with several dance bands in New Zealand in the 1950s, so it is likely that the Normaphon was used as a doubling instrument. |
NotesR. Parks, 18.1.03; A. Myers, bore profile, 1.3.03. |
Measurements840; bell 164. |
Provenanceon loan to the Collection. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number4235 |