"Alto flugel horn in Db, nominal pitch: 4-ft C"

Alto flugel horn in Db, nominal pitch: 4-ft C | Distin | Undated

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Audio Clips

The Distin family of musicians were Adolphe Sax's first British agents, but Sax severed this connection when Henry Distin started his own instrument manufactory. The model closely follows Sax's early bell-forward saxhorns, but Distin preferrd to use the terms "alto" or "flugel horn" to distance his products from Sax. (Frank Tomes Collection)

Flugelhorn

Distin

London

Europe

England

United Kingdom

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Alto flugel horn in Db, nominal pitch: 4-ft C

Alternative Title

Alto.

Accession Number

6087

Collection

MIMEd; Frank Tomes Collection

Date Information

No information recorded.

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Brasswind case 3

Maker Information

Maker Name

Distin

Maker Biography

Henry John Distin (1819-1903) was born into the notable Distin family of instrument makers and musicians. He took over the family firm in 1851, renamed the firm Distin & Co. and branding it as ‘Instrument Maker to Her Majesty’s Army & Navy.’ Henry Distin applied for 19 patents and won a prize medal at the 1867 World Exhibition in Paris. In 1868 he sold the family business (which continued as Distin & Co. until 1974) to Boosey & Son and moved to the USA in 1877. Whilst in America, he worked with Moses Slater of New York and then J.W. Pepper of New York and Philadelphia - during which he produced an alto horn with echo attachment, which he named the 'melody horn'. Following a move to Philadelphia in 1882, Henry Distin established a firm and later a factory in Williamsport, Pennsylvania with his son William Henry Distin, before retiring in 1890.

Made In

City

London

Country

England

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Silver-plated brass; bell-forward wrap. Bow guard on large bow. No water-key or fitting for music card-holder or trace of either. With two alternative main tuning-slides, short shank, crook for B♭, and cornet tuning-bit (which can be used with the short shank to allow use of a cornet mouthpiece).

Valve type: 3 rotary valves, the travel limited by cork buffers on spindle meeting the connecting arm; clock springs in drums with ratchet-and-pawl adjustment of spring restoring force.

Repair History: The clock springs have been replaced (the old springs retained).

Provenance

Gift of Susan Tomes, 2012.

Classification