Euphonium. Nominal pitch: C.

Hawkes and Son

Instrument

Euphonium

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Hawkes and Son

Place Made

United Kingdom; London; Europe; England

Date Made

Circa 1897

Description

4 valves. Technical description: Silver-plated brass. The 4th valve is a `trilateral' valve, the shorter (C) and the longer (G) windways both leave valve at upper ports, pass through tuning-slides and re-enter the valve at lower ports. There are thus two independent main tuning-slides. The bore diameter increases through both the 4th valve loops and tuning-slides, so the lower coquilles in the 4th valve piston are of larger calibre than the upper. The moving part of the main tuning-slide for C has one outer leg (the narrower) and one inner (the wider). Valve type: valves 1-3 the normal Périnet valves; the 4th valve Périnet-type. Repair History: In the past, the C main tuning-slide was extended to put instrument in B♭. The G main tuning-slide was only slightly extended, so the 4th valve then gave a lowering a minor third. A new C main tuning-slide was made for the instrument in 1992-3 but the G main tuning-slide was not restored to its original length. Overall size: 546; bell 243. Sounding length: minimum 2425. Bore: mouthpipe at c 40mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 11.1; centre of 3 valve cluster at c 260mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. (1,2,3) 14.6; 4th valve entry c 450mm from mouthpiece receiver, proximal m.t.s. (v.t.s. 4) 16.2; alternative m.t.s for G when 4th valve operated (v.t.s. 4) 16.3 18.5; shorter path 4th valve exit c 930mm from mouthpiece receiver, distal m.t.s. (v.t.s. 4) 19.0; 1212mm from bell end, c 26.2; c 952mm from bell end, 37.0. B = 0.43. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.9 - 12.0. Inscribed on bell "EXCELSIOR / CLASS / HAWKES & SON / Denman Street / Piccadilly Circus / LONDON"; on bell rim "11177"; on sides of valve casings "4", "5", "6", "7"; on side of 2nd and 4th valves "HAWKES & SON / LONDON". General literature references: Alphonse Sax's Belgian patent No 4363 claims invention of the `conical valve' system applied here to the 4th valve. This system is different from that of Rudall Carte's `Patent Conical Bore' valves, in which there is significant bore expansion within the piston. Usable pitch: With newly made C main tuning slide, plays at A4 = 440 Hz.

Notes

R. Parks, 8.1.94, bore 27.11.99; A. Myers.

Measurements

546; bell 243.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

3410