Antique Musical Instruments/Old trumpet/cornet

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Expert: - 5/13/2007


Question
Hello. I helped my mother clean out her attic, and we came across an old instrument, in its original case. Not sure if it is a trumpet or cornet. On the bell it says Made by Frank Holton & Co., Chicago, IL. On the stem of the center key it says...Union Label 01/2, Frank Holton & Co., Chicago, IL 29351. Can you please help us figure out what we have? thanks!

Answer
Well the easy part is that it was made in 1914.  My guess would be that you have a cornet, because they were more popular than trumpets in 1914.  You might want to look at these two web pages.  They are both of Holton instruments.  See if you can match yours up with one of the pictures.

Cornets:  http://www.horn-u-copia.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1109511958

Trumpets:  http://www.horn-u-copia.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1110291510  

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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