Bass trombone. Nominal pitch: G + (D - D♭).

Antoine Courtois

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Instrument

Bass trombone

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Antoine Courtois

Place Made

France ; Europe ; Paris ; Western Europe

Date Made

Circa 1869

Description

Technical description: Silver-plated brass; inner slides not plated. The main tuning-slide is possibly a longer alternative of two originally supplied. Length of valve tuning-slide 120 allowing increase of air column length by nearly 240mm. Smooth light wooden handle. Valve type: Banana-plate rotary valve with simple helical tension spring and wire to ring for thumb. Overall size: 1365; bell 191. Sounding length: minimum 3217. Bore: at c 55mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore), 12.1; descending slide, 12.3; ascending slide, 12.3; v.t.s. bore, 13.9; m.t.s. bore, 14.3 - 17.3; at c 619mm from bell end, 17.4; at 29.3mm from bell end, 107.7. B = 0.75. Bell cutoff = 900 Hz. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.7 - 12.3. Inscribed on bell "MEDAILLE / 1 ... / EXPOSITION / UNIVERSELLE / 1855" in circle / " MEDAILLE / LONDRES 1862 / Exposition Universelle / PARIS 1867 / Medaille d'Honneur / EN ARGENT / ANTOINE COURTOIS / Breveté / FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL / 88. rue des Marais St. Martin / Paris / S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL / Sole Agent / 52 New Bond Street / London"; beneath this an elliptical patch on bell where a further inscription has been obliterated. Playing accessories: 2 spare springs. With top opening case by Besson & Co. Decorative features: Embellished ferrules on main slide only. Possible high pitch alternative tuning slide missing. Usable pitch: A4 = 439 Hz. Performance characteristics: Valve tuning slide can be extended for change to Db. Purchased by lender with and possibly formerly used with mouthpiece (824). Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.146. Specific usage history: Used in the Irish Guards Band during Second World War (by Godfrey F. Kneller).

Other Information

Specific usage history: Used in the Irish Guards Band during Second World War (by Godfrey F. Kneller).

Notes

Arnold Myers, 1990; R. Parks, 7.3.92, 30.5.98.

Measurements

1365; bell 191.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

0581

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