Beautiful Conn Wonder Cornet Bb/A circa 1914 (echoes of Bix Beiderbecke!!!)

Description

Beautiful Conn Wonder Cornet Bb/A circa 1914 (echoes of Bix Beiderbecke!!!)
The Conn Wonders were the horn of choice for the legendary jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. If you saw him playing anything else, it was because of some contract between the band leader and the instrument manufacturer.
This particular unit offered here hails from 1914, very early production, and features the signature, very steam punk, opera glass tuning mechanism, which is operated by the large, knurled disk adjacent to the mouthpiece receiver. Once you have used one, you wonder why all trumpets and cornets aren't manufactured with this method of tuning.
This additional tuning slide was required because the horn is capable of changing key by the simple act of pulling out what would be the tuning slide on any trumpet to the outer stop. This change of natural key, of course, requires the lengthening of the slides on the three valves for the instrument to be in tune with itself and this is accomplished by a series of levers attached to the main slide. So: One simple shift of a slide and an in-tune Bb cornet is now an in-tune cornet in A! Seldom does one find a fully functioning Conn Wonder these days, and this cornet is one of them. There are two similar images shown here, one in the slide Bb mode and another in the A mode.
The reason this instrument is still fully functional: This cornet has been subject to an in-depth re-work by Ron Partch, the man who keeps the instruments of the Canadian Brass in top form. As such, you could take it out on a gig the day you receive it.
The finish is brushed silver with polished silver details.
Early Conn history is shrouded in mystery, so I have included some quotes from C Derksen’s website.
1915-1949 Production Years
Almost all Conn instruments produced under the "C.G.Conn" brand were professional level instruments. The differences between the models were mostly related to features with models tailored to orchestral playing, jazz, etc. As far as I know there were no "student" models produced under the C.G.Conn brand. These student models were sold under the "Pan American" and "Cavalier" brand of instruments.
As you can see from the images, the cornet is accompanied by an authentic case in good shape, and a couple of appropriate vintage mouthpieces, both in good shape.
This is a real find for the vintage collector.
Myself, I am ageing out of my brass playing years (hopefully gracefully) and am releasing my acquired treasures back into the wild where, hopefully, they will find appreciative owners for their next adventures.
Well packed and shipped insured via Canada Post (see terms and conditions in shipping text), the cornet will be in your hands within about 7 business days, even internationally.