Basset horn. Nominal pitch: F.

Christian Gottfried Geisler

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Instrument

Basset horn ; Basset horn/Clarinets/Wind/Musical Instrument

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Christian Gottfried Geisler

Place Made

Amsterdam ; Netherlands ; Northern Europe ; Europe

Date Made

Circa 1850

Description

Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Mouthpiece of cocus wood with a long table, grooved for cord with 18 grooves. Curved wooden barrel with two ivory ferrules. Upper section: Keys in brass saddles, spectacle for L2 and L3 controlling a vent to improve forked B♭. Straight speaker, liner projects c 5mm into bore. Lower section: R3 ring replaced by a plate and link allowing B touchpiece for L4 to hold down the C key. Chromatic extension with C and D open-standing for R4 and C♯ and D♯ closed-standing for R0. Brass rollers on L4 touchpieces and basset C key. Shaped thumb rest with a ring. Straight bell. L0: T; speaker. L1: T; throat A♮; throat A♭. L2: T + spectacle. L3: T + spectacle; cross E♭/B♭. L4: C♯/G♯; E/B♮; F♯/C♯. R0: basset C♯; basset D♯, R1: T; side F/ C; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C. R2: T + spectacle. R3: Plate + spectacle (forked B♭/F♮); cross B♭/F♮ . R4: G♯/E♭; F/C. Keymount type: metal saddles and screwed-in pillars. Keyhead type: saltspoon. Overall size: Height c 1030. Bore: 16.8. Stamped "GEISLER / AMSTERDAM". With wooden reed cap; with wood case, basic fittings. Usable pitch: A₄ = c 450 Hz. Specific literature references: G.S. (1968) No. 197. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.102; Follan 1987b, p.39.

Notes

T.K. Dibley, 1992; R. Neil, 1986; H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

Height c 1030.

Collection

MIMEd ; Rendall Collection

Accession Number

0091