Expert: Kenton Scott - 11/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have what appears to be an antique coronet, but I do not know anything about it's history. Can you tell me anything about it, e.g., age, what it might have been used for, etc.? It appears to be silver or silver plate. It is approximately 14" in length. It has quite ornate engraving on the bell and some other parts of the instrument. It has/had mother of pearl keys. It has two extra tubes/pipes (sorry, I'm a pianist and string player and don't know the technical terms for brass instrument parts) as well as the mouthpiece. It is in what appears to be the original case, which is black covered cardboard with metal reinforced corners and a metal clasp. The identifying information has been worn off to some extent, but what I can decipher is this:
J Howard Foute
SUPERIOR
Paris New York
and
Chicago
On the valves are numbers, one per valve: 37(?), 38, 39(?)

Thank you in advance for your response.

Marty

ANSWER: J Howard Foote was a maker and importer.  He established his business in 1863.  He claimed that the instruments he imported were made to his specifications. Ceased operations in 1896.  It is likely a type of brass called German or nickel silver.  The extra tubing was to change pitch of the instrument, and the markings on the valve casings are just maker's marks to keep the valve and the valve parts in order.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response.

I know you do not know the background of this particular instrument, but were they used mainly in any particular area, e.g., Civil War, bands, etc.?

What, if anything, could or should be done to restore this instrument?

Thanks once again!

Marty

Answer
It most likely was used in brass bands of the latter part of the 19th century.  

Without inspecting the instrument, it would be rather difficult to determine what it would need to be restored.  And, it depends on what you plan to do with it.  If you plan on displaying it, probably just polishing it with silver polish would be sufficient.  If you plan on selling it, most likely interested buyers would prefer to do their own restoration.  If you plan on having someone play it, then a repair shop would need to get it fully functional again.