Expert: Kenton Scott - 2/4/2009

Question
i was hoping someone could help me dating this cornet i have tried many web pages but when i get near the number i cant find it it is marked 123549  and to the pistons 97878 and what seems to be 15 /14 /13 on each piston hope you can help best regards chris

Answer
The serial number on the bell is the one that is used for dating.  Actually, using serial numbers to date horns is an activity of owners after the fact, most companies didn't them in that fashion and often horns were completed in other than serial order, but still it is a useful approximation.  

The serial on the valve section was used in that department and the serial on the bell was for the assembly department.  The numbers on the valves were to keep the pistons and casings in order.  They would receive the pistons in a long string and just just take what they needed from the string.

Your horn dates to 1925.