TubeNet

I don't know if there is a hot market for this, but price is low enough. Still it looks mighty strange.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AUTHENTIC-1900s-Bb- ... dZViewItem

"NOTE - However Professional quality musical instrument seekers please do not bid for these instruments as they will clearly not be satisfactory for you - we are targeted to the students and intermediatory level player who is looking for value and appreciates the product in terms of price paid."

Randy Beschorner wrote:I don't know if there is a hot market for this, but price is low enough. Still it looks mighty strange.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AUTHENTIC-1900s-Bb- ... dZViewItem

EUCHMI has a nice web page on the real thing, complete with audio samples:

http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/ujt/ujt1451.html

However, the one shown on eBay may rightfully be considered as a made-in-India latrine decoration

There's a guy on the web who set out to build his own, using one of the Indian wallhangers as a starting point. Basically, he provided his own conret, additional valve and tubing--just used the bell from the Indian thing.

Back sometime in the 1990's, Boosey made a very small run of Sovereign echo cornets. I saw one on eBay--I think it had a reserve of $2500.

I once had a Henry Distin Echo bell cornet from the 1890s in my hot little hands. It was a beautiful instrument, fully engraved on all of the slides and valve buttons besides the bell. It was in the original hard case with multiple leadpipes and mouthpieces. I would have had no use for it so I didn't spend the $1,100 he wanted for it, but it was a very interesting thing.

These were used by soloists of the time to create a muted "echo" sound without having to stop to insert or remove a mute. It was a similar concept to how double bell euphoniums were used. I also have an ad somewhere for a Distin echo "melody horn." A melody horn was an Eb alto horn with a large, French horn sized, bell, but in an upright configuration. Here's a photo of one that I once owned:



The ad I saw was this type of horn with a large echo attachment like the one on the cornet pictured in the auction to which you refer.

I have also seen modern Besson echo cornets from as late as the 1970s. I have never seen or heard one played, but I imagine it could be interesting.

All that said, this one is most likely a nice decoration, but useless as an instrument.

Have a look at the double-belled relic at the bottom of this old photo:



It's called an "Alpine Echo Horn". Google on it and you'll get zip. Must be really rare.