B&H Imperial cornet valve springs

[ketch22]

The principal cornet player in our Brass band (Rupertsland Brass in Winnipeg, Canada) has a 1950's (I think) era B&H Imperial cornet that needs new valve springs. These are the type that operate under tension rather than compression. Does anyone know a source or if they are even available somewhere? Maybe there is something out there that will work? He found someone local who would make them, but the cost is well over the value of the instrument. He really likes the cornet and he does play it beautifully.

K22
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"I see music as fluid architecture": Joni Mitchell
http://www.rupertslandbrass.ca

[Louise Finch]

Hi ketch22

If his is a low pitch model rather than a high pitch conversion, I'd guess that it is probably made in the 1960s. Although having gone up in price in the UK, there are plenty of the low pitch imperials around, and it may work out cheaper to find a really tatty one and take the springs from it. If it is a high pitch conversion and these have the same valves as the low pitch ones, these seem to come up for sale pretty regularly for a pretty low price, and one may make a good donor instrument.

I hope that this will help.

Best wishes

Lou
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Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

[Andy Del]

A good repair tech can make the spring in a couple of minutes, once they source the correct wire.

cheers

Andy
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so many horns, so few good notes...