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HAWKES & SON piston horn
£535.00
HAWKES & SON 'EXCELSIOR SONOROUS'
Serial number: 22806 (approx 1906)
Weight: 1.73 kg
This horn's bell diameter (26.5 cm) is very slightly smaller
than the usual 27cm of Hawkes bells.
The bell has no garland, being made of unusually thin brass
with a visible 'stitched seam' gusset.
Engraving / stamps: 'RMB 220' and the Hawkes 'H' poincon.
F crook, in good condition, albeit with a few small
dings and signs of repair.
Pistons: EXCELLENT COMPRESSION.
The 3 pistons' tuning slides and the slides' outer sleeves are
longer than those on some 'Excelsior Sonorous' horns, and
are marked with suggested positions for playing with F or
Eb crooks.
The slides are too long to permit playing
in tune with an 'A' crook, even when pushed fully in.
PHYSICAL CONDITION: Generally very good, with tuning
slides that are so tight that they make quick intonation
adjustments quite difficult to achieve.
Interestingly, there is a stamped brass plate near
the bell rim, which must have been installed when the horn
was built, since it is gripped by the turned-over outer bell
rim.
The plate bears a stamp:
'Excelsior Sonorous Class A
Hawkes & Son, London'.
PERFORMANCE: VERY GOOD overall, with no 'bad notes'
and a well-centred tone. The horn feels that it has been
'blown-in' mostly as a 'high horn'.
Hard case: in much-used but functional condition;
a new lightweight case with side pockets and backpack
straps is available for £90.
The photos can be viewed in greater detail
by opening and saving them.
Halstead Music Ltd acts as an agent only,
accepting no responsibility as a principal.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd.