Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/18/2007

Question
Dear Sir,
I received a gift several years ago of an unusual horn that my husband bought at an auction.
I have search for some info for about 18 years and have found no one who know what it is.
It is a silver horn marked "Martin Signal". It has a mouth piece like a pipe and 5 different bells. It plays a chord when blown into and can change keys as it is played.
Any guidance to age, what it was used for and an approximate value would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.  

Answer
The name on the instrument tell you what it is.  It is a signal horn.  They had generally no musical purpose.  I've heard of a seven belled instrument that was advertised in period catalogs as being sutible for taxis.

There is however a similar instrument called Schalmei and is a  member of the free reed family. It was used during the Nazi era by Germans with only slight musical talent. It was made as late as about 1983.

Martin was a German maker of these devices.