Cornet, nominal pitch: C

B.F. Richardson

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Alternative Title

Cornet.

Instrument

Cornet/Cornets/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Cornet

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

B.F. Richardson

Place Made

Boston ; North America ; United States of America

Date Made

Circa 1861

Description

Silver-plated brass with water-key. The bell is directed backwards (towards the player). The fingering system for this instrument is identical with Adolphe Sax's independent valves: the shortest tube length (4-ft C) is obtained by operating the first valve, the next shortest (4½-ft B) is obtained by operating the second valve, and so on; the longest tube length (6-ft F♯) is obtained with no valves operated. However, in Sax's design valves 1, 2 and 3 (for the right hand) are placed at 90° to valves 4, 5 and 6 (for the left hand) and each valve has its own tuning slide. By placing the valves in line and spacing them by the correct distances, Bayley eliminated valve tuning slides and made a far lighter instrument than Sax's independent-valve cornet. There may be some disadvantage in not being able to tune the individual valves, but on the other hand the system dispenses with combinations of valves and the associated tuning errors are eliminated. Valve type: 6 Allen-type rotary valves.

Other Information

Inscribed on bell "Bayley's American Cornet / Manufactured by / B.F. Richardson, / Boston, Mass."

Notes

R. Parks 19.3.05.

Measurements

462mm; bell 86mm.

Provenance

On loan to the Collection. ; This cornet is one of a number of radical designs by John Bayley. A few instruments survive from his collaborations with B.F. Richardson, Boston, U.S.A., circa 1860. ; Purchased by lender and possibly formerly used with mouthpiece (4467).