Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/10/2006

Question
I have purchased and old holton couturier new proportion.  silver plated, engraved.  has original case.  2 flat rim mouthpieces and all slides to change the instrument pitch.  don't know if it changes pitch from Bflat to A or E.  serial number 13691.  I was wanting to find out ne thing i can about this beautiful instrument.  ie, date of manufacture, market value, etc.  All I know about it is that it came from ohio.  any info would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Courturier was a turn of the century soloist who first worked with Holton to develop the Coururier model, and then with York, and in  1918 he opened his own company which was bought out by Lyon and Healy in 1923 and ended production in 1929.  

The Holton Couturier models were made between about 1909 and 1912, and later 'morphed' into the  the Clark model.

I don't know of any Ohio connection.

kms