Holton Clarke Model Cornet

[RandyTX]

I recently managed to pick up a Holton Clarke Model cornet in rather amazing condition from a friend that collects mostly low brass, but found this somewhere while traveling.

The valve block shows a serial number of 512xx on it, with H - C above it (presumably for Herbert Clarke?), then Frank Holton & Co, Chicago, and the serial number.

It appears to be in a correct case, with a spare set of slides, which might be for A, or perhaps High/low pitch, cleaning brush, lyre (though there's no obvious place to attach it), along with two period cooker cutter style mouthpieces.

One of the mouthpieces seems to be a perfect fit for the leadpipe and while worn, I can make out York & Sons on it, but no model. The other has insertion marks on the shank that stop well before where it inserts into the leadpipe. It appears to be a smaller shank than the York and about 1/8" longer. I suspect it's not actually correct for this horn, but maybe the owner bought it for pitch reasons when switching slides?

Also, the main tuning slide has an adjustable threaded stop rod of some kind, on the inner surface (toward the bell). Somewhat reminiscent of what you find on some models of Olds cornets, but on the back side tuning slide.

One other thing of interest, no pinky ring at all on the lead pipe. Could be something Clarke insisted upon? It does not appear there was ever one on the horn, so I doubt it was removed after it was made.

I'm curious if anyone knows much about these horns or where I can learn more about them.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

[lipshurt]

i cant answer you questions specifically, but i did work on a holton clarke cornet (made a pipe or receiver or adjusted the length to get to proper pitch. cant actually remember what the issue was) and when i was done with it that thing played great, great response, pitch, ease, and sound. I was very impressed. The valves were made very well too. Not leaky at all. Great looking horn too. Totally as good as any new yamaha etc.
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Mouthpiece Maker
vintage Trumpet design enthusiast
www.meeuwsenmouthpieces.com
www.youtube.com/lipshurt

[Uberopa]

I have had the opportunity to play one of these cornets. No pinky ring in silver plate. Nice looking horn. Played loud as in seriously loud but I found it to be on the harsh side. Beautiful horn though.

[RandyTX]

Perhaps notably, these two mouthpieces I got with the horn are seriously deep and funnel shaped. More so than the Flugel mp I normally use.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

[Dennis78]

What you’re referring to as the main tuning slide is actually the quick change to A slide the next slide in line is the tuning slide, and will actually work better as far as intonation goes
No pinky ring was common-as mute work was not
H-C stands for Holton- Clarke
The extra slides are for high pitch
The lyre mount would have been the removable strap style
Congratulations on your new cornet
Is it the straight bell tail or the shepherds crook?
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a few different ones

[RandyTX]

[derby_mute]

The shepherd crook wrap is on the early Clarke cornets. I think sometime in the 1920s they changed it to a straight wrap.
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Cornets:
Selmer model #43
Selmer Concept
Baldwin Custom (Blessing Artist stencil)
1923 Buescher shepherd's crook
1880 F. Besson Paris
Trumpets:
1931 Cleveland Greyhound
1935 Olds French model

[RandyTX]

According to a serial number list online, this should have been made in 1921, so that sounds reasonable.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."