Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: My first research on an instrument.  Cornet has the following markings:
Bell: TRADE MARK DISTIN within a trumpet and banner outline; BOOSEY& CO   MAKERS   295 REGENT ST   LONDON; 18542 (the 2 double stamped)
Valve casings:  19171 on 2nd valve within outline as on bell; valves 1 engraved 22  23  24.

Any help on dating this instrument would be appreciated.

Guy Luttrell
Phoenix, AZ

ANSWER: I can narrow it a bit.  Unfortunately, the serial number lists start with 36932 in 1891, but that at least establishes that it is older than that.  

Boosey bought Distin in 1868, so it is younger than that.

And, Boosey is listed at 295 Regent in 1874.

So, it is somewhere between 1874 and 1891, probably in the early 1880s.



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

QUESTION: Thanks for the info.  One more question by a beginner:  which five digits are the serial number and what are the others; i.e. 18542 and 19171.
Guy

Answer
My understanding of that is that there were two departments one which assembled the instrument and one that built the valve assembly. They each had their own numbering system and although they are similar, they are also generally different.  The assembly department didn't try to match their number with the valve department, and in all probability they didn't even try to take them in order.  

Then the other thing to realize is that for most makers, the serial number lists are just constructed estimates.  They will be close, but not necessarily exact.  

Generally the number on the bell is used for dating.