Expert: Kenton Scott - 2/11/2010

Question
I have an Ahlberg & Ohlsson Alto Flugelhorn in F made in Stockholm with serial number #4478.  It has rotary valves with buttons. Would you be able to tell me anymore regarding the historical use of this horn, its value, or anything else about it? I am presently playing it with a small trombone mouthpiece.

Answer
Ahlberg & Ohlsson was a Stockholm based brass instrument maker from 1850 to 1959. And was the biggest manufacturer of its kind in Sweden for most of that period. Their best known and most appreciated products were cornets (especially in Eb) and valve trombones. When the military bands stopped using these the company had to close down.

Almost all Ahlberg & Ohlsson valved instruments have what is often called "Swedish fingerings", where the third valve is two whole-steps instead of the more common one and a half.

It would probably be best played with an alto horn mouthpiece, though you might want to check shank sizes to make sure it would fit.