NMM 7334.  Over-the-shoulder cornet in E-flat by Elbridge G. Wright, Boston, ca. 1850.  Joe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection of Brass Instruments, 1999. This instrument is one of only two surviving over-the-shoulder cornets featuring three valves and five keys made by E. G. Wright. According to Allen Dodworth's Brass Band School (New York: 1853), such instruments combined "the fullness of tone in the lower notes peculiar to valve instruments with the greater ease and facility of the upper notes which is peculiar to keyed instruments." Cornets with valves and keys were truly transitional instruments, combining the best elements of older brass instrument design--keys--with the latest development in brass technology--valves. Signature engraved on bell: Made by / E. G. Wright. / Boston. Body:  German-silver body:  leadpipe with telescopic tuning slide, valve cluster, and bellpipe (bell and bell bow in one integral part). Overlapping tab seam extending over the entire length of the bellpipe (sloping tabs 5 mm wide and 5 mm apart). Undecorated garland; Saxon rim. Ferrules with one engraved line adjacent to the edge; receiver ferrule with bead-pattern. Bell to the left of the leadpipe. Rotary Valves Click on image above to see a larger image Valve detail showing pin stop and three-point wing device with cork-buffers; left valve in on position, right valve in off position. Valves:  Three top-action, string-operated, rotary valves. Leaf-spring return mechanism; pin stop and three-point-wing device with cork-buffers on pulley. Internal slide tubing. Windway: first, second, third valve. Keys Click on image above to see a larger image Keys with pin pivot on pillars and leaf springs Keys: Five closed keys operated by the left hand serve the notes a-flat2, a2, b-flat2, b2 and c3 (relative to c-pitch). Round, spoon-shaped key heads with renewed brown leather pads; German-silver tone-hole rims with undecorated tone-hole borders. Keys pivot on pin in pillars on oval footplate; leaf-springs guided in channels on footplates. Accessories and Sounding Length Accessories:  none Sounding length (including inserted tuning slide):  922 mm; internal diameter, leadpipe: 10.9 mm; internal diameter, telescoping tuning slide: 10.3 mm; bore diameter (inner valve slides): 11 mm; bell diameter: 114 mm. Literature:  Sabine K. Klaus, "Over-the-shoulder Cornet by E. G. Wright," in "Historic Instrument Window," Sabine K. Klaus, editor, International Trumpet Guild Journal, Vol. 30, No. 4 (June 2006), p. 41. Robert E. Eliason, "D. C. Hall and the Quinby Brothers, Boston Music Industry Leaders: Makers of Brass Instruments with Flat, Round, Square, and Piston Valves," Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, 34 (2008), p. 92. Return to Checklist of Over-the-Shoulder Cornets National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2005-2009 Most recent update: January 21, 2009 You are the 458th visitor to this page since December 22, 2005 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page