Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I was given a Courtois cornet a long while ago and recently found it again in my attic, the engraving on it reads "MEDAILLE DE 1RE CLASSE EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE 1855" in a circle and then "Médaille LONDRES 1862 Exposition Universelle PARIS 1867 Médaille d'Honneur EN ARGENT ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE MILLE SR FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL 88, rue des Marais St Martin Paris 1LR PRIX GRANDE MÉDAILLE D'OR EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872 & MEDAILLE D'OR PARIS 1878 S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL Sole Agent 52 New Bond Street London. It then has some nice engraving of some flowers and 1910

It is pretty beat up with a few dents especially round the bell so my question is can i safely assume it is a vintage cornet? Is it worth restoring and can you tell me any history on it?

Many thanks

ANSWER: Well youu can tell from the engraving that it is no older than 1878.  Courtois had a lot of agents in various countries. But it is interesting that they had on in their home country.  Courtois made good instruments.  Whether it is worth restoring or not would depend on its present condition.



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

QUESTION: Hi thanks for the answer, i would say its present condition is that it looks like its been dropped a lot. one of the valves sticks and it needs a good clean while i managed to decipher much of the engraving by process of elimination much of it is worn. Also while trying to do my own research on the net, i keep coming across serial numbers that most people seem to have on their instruments - do you have any clues as to where i would find mine as i don't recall ever seeing one.

Thanks again

Answer
It is sort of pointless to look for a serial number.  1.  Courtois didn't initially put serial numbers on their instruments, and 2.  There is no serial number list for Courtois.  Using serial numbers to date horns was never the maker's point for putting the numbers on them.  They just used the numbers to track inventory.  But, since yours lists the 1878 award and not the 1889 award, I would assume that it was made between those years.