Expert: Kenton Scott - 6/2/2010

Question
I saw an earlier post about a gold Conn cornet. My Great Uncles first wife cornet soloist Marie McNeil was also given a gold cornet by Conn as a publicity piece where she would play it at concerts. I have a few photographs of her with horns but since they were all black and white back then I have no idea if one is the gold Conn. Was there anything distingussiable about these that I can look for in the photos? Alhtough I do have a vew nespaper articlies and advertising peices discribing her concerts with the Gold Conn.

Answer
I can think of nothing that would definitively determine whether a B&W picture would be of a gold or silver plated horn.  However, if they are going to the expense of gold plating it, they would also heavily engrave it.  And, you might be able to see the engraving in a picture.

But, nevertheless, it does sound like a fun research project.