Antique Musical Instruments/Henri Gautier Cornet

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Expert: - 11/18/2006


Question
Looking for the approximate date of Henri Gautier, B & F manufacturer, Austria, "L" on middle valve casing.  It  has three lead pipes, and various slide combinations to tune in A, Bb, and C. Virtuoso model with lots of engraving. Nickle finish. Am presently playing it in a victorian cornet band, configured to play at A=457.  

Answer
Larry,

Does it look like any of these?

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php?secondsel=+and+instrument%3D%22Cornet%22...

I suspect, if I understand you correctly, that yours may be earlier.  Gautier was a trade name used by Lyon and Healy, and the horn was made by Bohland and Fuchs.  The fact that that information is recorded on the instrument, it would indicate that it was made after the McKinley Act of 1891, which required labeling instruments as to where the were manufactured.  

I'd like to hear about your victorian band.  Write me at kenton@punxypa.com if you care to.  

Antique Musical Instruments

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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.

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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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