Expert: Kenton Scott - 8/26/2008

Question
I have a Lyon & Healy Inspiration cornet serial #12728.  One mouthpiece is engraved "The only genuine Levy model made by Lyon & Healy Chicago USA" The other mouthpiece is ornate and engraved with my great-uncle's name Emil Kopp.  Family tales were that he played in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but I could only confirm that his son Edouard played from 1918 to 1945.
I have the case (aged, but intact) and all the parts which I understand are used to change the tone as well as the music holder, etc.
I would really like to track the age of this instrument and whether is worth saving in hopes someone in the family will want to play it someday.
Thanks

Answer
Trying to compile information on Lyon and Healy is a real mess.  They were a significant player in the music business around the turn of the century, but they acquired instruments from many makers and any records there may have been were burned up in a couple of fires in their offices.  

My impression is that the signature mouthpieces were purchased separately from instruments, and so the mouthpiece may have been from the same time period, but not necessarily.  Jules Levy (1838 - 1903)), of course was a famous cornet soloist.  

Having a custom engraved mouthpiece is pretty cool. And, that must mean something.  

I would be surprised that this instrument would have had anything to do with the symphony.  Cornets don't usually make it into orchestras, where trumpets are the instrument of choice, and the cornet mouthpiece doesn't fit a trumpet, so that isn't a connection either.  Lastly, it is unlikely that a professional player would have used a Lyon and Healy import.  

As far as saving it for a family member, you may want to check with omeone to make sure that the horn plays at modern pitch (A=440), as many early horns were tuned to a higher standard.  

As to the age, it is probably going to have to be estimated from the style of the horn.  You may want to look at some of the other examples at:  http://www.horn-u-copia.net/admin/admin.php?sending_page=index.php&selby=+where+...  and see if you find anything similar.