Expert: Kenton Scott - 6/28/2006

Question
do you know the value of a frank holton co cornet made in chicago. pat oct 17 11 and there is also another number of 19377. also on the cornet is union mpbp label 0. new proportion couturier model. has all extra peices and in its original case. very good condition. hope to here something soon. thank you fred.

Answer
Your horn was made in 1912.

E.A.Courturier was a well known soloist at the turn of the century. He worked with Holton on the "Courturier Model" which yours is.  

Then he went with York, and in 1918 he his own business, "E. A. Couturier Co., Ltd.," with the intention of building instruments using his continuous conical bore patent. This cornet uses a minimum of cylindrical tubing.   The firm was bought by Lyon & Healy in 1923, and ended production in 1929.

I wouldn't presume to estimate its value.