Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/12/2009

Question
My grandparents are in possession of an instrument that belonged to my great-great grandfather. it looks like a baritone, but my grandparents say it is a kind of french horn. ii is too small to be a regular baritone, so i am wondering what kind of instrument it is. it was made by the Pan-American Inst. & Case Co. of Elkhart, Indiana. the serial number on the second valve is P33357. It has an upward-facing bell and three valves. The valves look like trumpet valves. Please help me here, I can't find anything about this instrument. Thanks!

Answer
Sounds to me like you are describing an alto horn, which looks like this:  http://www.horn-u-copia.net/instruments/Conn/Pan-American-alto-56C.jpg

It was made around 1927.  

They were the dominant mid-voice in bands from the time of the Civil War to several decades into the 10th Century, when they were finally displaced by the French Horns.  They are still used in British style brass bands.