Antique Musical Instruments/Reynolds Piston Valve French Horn

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Expert: - 3/23/2009


Question
I have a Reynolds, piston valve french horn, marked with the number 4882 on the second valve body and inscribed with the initials U.S. on the bell.  I am looking for any information available.

Answer
Reynolds did indeed make a piston French horn.  However, they made many more mellophones.  And, sometimes mellophones are mistaken for French horns.  

That serial number would date it to the late 1930s.  And, the US would indicate that it was made for military use.  

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

Expertise

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

Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.

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