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I have an instrument that I have been told is an F horn or maybe a mellophone. The only marking I can see on it is Karl Schubert on the Bell and number 47 and letters "F" or "D" on the slides. The valve tubes have the numbers 48, 47 and 46 respectively. The valves are not lever valves like a French Horn, but look more like valves seen on a trumpet. The valves have mother of pearl buttons and two of them are still working. It looks like it may be made out of silver or tarnished brass. I am just curious what kind of an instrument this is, from what year it might be and in what type of a musical setting it may be used today.
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Thanks for you time!
Karl Schubert was tradename used by the J.W.Jenkins Co. of Kansas City, MO. It was probably made in the Czech Republic in the 1920s-'30's. It is a mellophone and designed so it would play in several keys; Probably F, Eb, D, and C.
The mellophone was a transitional instrument used in brass/wind bands replacing the alto saxhorns of the 19th century, and was itself replaced by French horns in the wind bands of the 20th century. Modern marching bands use a bell forward variation of this instrument.
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Answers by Expert:
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.
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
Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.
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