AboutKenton Scott Expertise Provide information on antique, obscure and out of production BRASS instruments. Please don't ask for evaluations, I'll not provide them on this site.
Experience 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
My father and I are trying to figure out the year of his french horn. We know it belonged to his father before him. My grandfather played it in a military band during World War II. My grandfather is dead, so we have no other information about how old it is. It has a seal on it (included a photo, though it isn't that good, could probably provide a rubbing of the seal if that will help better) It says it was made in Germany, but we can't tell the rest of the info on it because it looks like it is German. It has two slides (I am guessing these change the pitch, sorry I am a woodwind and guitar player, not a brass player) and it has two mouthpieces (My dad thinks one is the original and one was bought when my dad started playing.) Any ideas on the year it was made? Or know of anywhere I can go to find out?
Answer Since 1836, the Kruspe family has been making instruments in Erfurt (PREDIGER-strasse 13 and then DABERSTEDTER-strasse (now SCHILLER-Strasse]) Family names include: Franz Carl, Johan Edward, Carl, Walkter, Fritz, Freidrich Wilhelm. Kruspe's manufactory in the beginning made flutes and clarinets. Trademark Eagle, later a lyre over a six spoked wheel.
The first workshop of (Franz) Carl Kruspe started i 1836, taught his two sons Friedrich Willhelm who specialized in woodwinds and Eduard who specialized in brass. Friedrich was the successor to his father, and to further confuse the record, Freirich named his son Eduard. His shop was bought by Huller in 1920.
Eduard Kruspe, the brass specializing son established his workshop and was the successor to Zielsdorf in 1864. And, was succeeded by his son Fritz in 1893.
The firm was purchased by Huller in 1920.
After WW II, at least some fo the assets of the Kruespe shop was consolidated in Markneukirchen.
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