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Wurlitzer Helicon
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:54 pm
by gionvil
I own this instrument which is still in good playable conditions, I found it in France, but having come from the US maybe somebody of you there can help me in discovering something more about its origin. The engraving on the bell the says "The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. Cincinnati" (see picture) but a small stamp below bears "exchanged for New Buescher - Elkhart In" and a serial number . What does that mean?
Thanks a lot
Gionata
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Re: Wurlitzer Helicon
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:57 pm
by Bandmaster
These pages show the same horn with different manufacture names, so who knows at this point? But all of these horns look VERY similar through the valve section.
http://www.horn-u-copia.net/picture.php ... elicon.jpg
E. Muller, Mayence, Germania bell measures 19 ¾in
http://www.horn-u-copia.net/picture.php ... elicon.jpg
inscribed: HENRY POURCELLE, SUPERIOR, PARIS bell 19 1/2IN Pourcelle was a trade name for the Bruno Company The Bruno Company was established in New York in 1834 In 1868, the Company used C. Bruno and Son as its name. After the turn of the 20th Century, the company began using trade names including: Lafayette, Paris; Perfackton; Perfection; Henry Pourcelle, Paris; La Vesta; Vocotone.
Re: Wurlitzer Helicon
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:16 pm
by imperialbari
This instrument looks most interesting, and I hope some of the guys in-the-know about old American makers will chime in.
For very much tuba related reasons I am busy through Saturday, but here without research I find it safe to say, that the valve tubing wrap points towards an instrument from before 1925, maybe even before 1920.
Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre