AboutMike Pawul Expertise I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in five bands and have several "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 350 with more than 230 on ebay
Experience I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done over 500 horns.
Organizations Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band,
River Cities Concert Band,
University of Louisville Community Band,
Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN),
Bugles Across America (BAA),
Education/Credentials I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College.
Awards and Honors Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.
I recently inherited a cornet. I am curious as to it's age and origin. Whether it has an value or not is secondary, but would be nice to know. The horn is silver and is engraved with an ornate paisley design on top of the bell extending to the second valve. The markings state: The Buescher Mfg. Co. True Tone, Elkhart, Ind. The second valve is stamped # 1145. One thousand, one hundred and forty five. Oddly enough it accepts a trumpet mouthpiece. I assume that someone altered the horn from its original condition by the size of the orifice tube that accepts a trumpet mouthpiece. Not being knowledgeable about older horns, I have no idea about this (mouthpiece tube accepts trumpet size) The few cornets I have seen accept a smaller unique cornet mouthpiece.
Answer Joe, The horn is a very early Buescher cornet. The serial places it right around 1895-1900. The company was started in 1888 and operated until a fire burned the plant down in 1905. The serials at that time were about 4000 so your horn is several years before that. Someone has indeed modified the receiver by soldering a trumpet leadpipe into it. The True Tone horns all played very well and are well thought of by collectors. If you are interested in preserving it I would have a new receiver mounted and use a true bit with it. In the current condition the horn could get as much as $200 (depending on the wear to the valves) but it would be worth more if it was original.
Buescher made many pro horns and finally fell on hard times in the early 1960's. Selmer bought them in 1963 and still has an Aristocrat model that is made overseas for them.
)