Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/13/2011

Question
We have a silver cornet with "Our Own Make" with the old Salvation Army crest (2 swords, cross, "blood and fire") and the number 476 (all on the bell).  It has white cork on the base of the valves.  It has a double spit valve in Y shape.  The black square case has the SA crest on lid as well.  Any idea when or where this was manufactured?   I contacted a group in UK, but the serial numbers they have on record only go back to 11821 in 1925 at the SA horn factory there.  They suggested it is either pre-1925 or may have been made in the USA, but didn't know where.
Any ideas?

Answer
Salvation Army brought out the Our Own Make models in 1893.  They were first at Clerkenwell Rd, London, moved to Fortess Rd in 1896, and to St Albans in 1901.  The detail of the instrument you describe are consistent with an instrument made around the turn of the century.