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Antique Musical Instruments/vintage silver cornet. By Hawks and Son

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Expert: - 10/11/2009


Question
My Father bought a Silver Cornet Called -THE CHIPPERTONE EXCELSIOR SCNCROUS CLASS A. No33777 By Hawks and son,of picadilly, London. I believe it to be over 100 years old?
can you please tell me a little about this instrument/Cornet it is housed in its leather case including what appears to be extensions and mouth piece.

Thanking you in anticipation

Stuart R Stanley

Answer
William Henry Hawkes, state trumpeter for Queen Victoria, started an import business in 1860 at Cumberlnad St. Pimlico. In 1862,he moved to Soho Sqare. In 1869, he added a repair shop. In 1875, he moved to Leicester Square. In 1876, he formed a partnership with Jules Riviere as Riviere and Hawkes and began to make brass instruments. He formed WH Hawkes and Son in 1889. In 1895, he moved to Denman St. Piccadilly Circus. In 1924, he opened a new factory at Edgeware, and in 1930 merged with Boosey and Co.

Your horn was made about 1908, give or take a few years.

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Kenton Scott

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Please note: My area is BRASS instruments, not other wind, string or percussion instruments. I will provide information on antique, obscure and out of production BRASS instruments. 1) Please don't ask for evaluations, I'll not provide them on this site. 2) I am often asked very similar questions, so I'd invite you to first check on Horn-u-Copia.net. Much of the information I have garnered about this topic, I have posted on this WEB site.

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I perform in several historical bands, have informally researched the area, repair brass instruments, and operate a Forum dedicated to the topic at http://horn-u-copia.net

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B.S. Ed, M.S.

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