Boston "Pre-Star" and One Star Cornets

Of course, “Pre-Star” is not the model name for this cornet, but most likely what was called the “New Bb Cornet” in the earliest mention in print in the mid-1870s. These pre-date the introduction of the One, Two and Three Star model cornets described elsewhere and was probably made about 1875 or 1877 at the latest.   This likely is the first appearance of the largest bore, .487" in a Boston cornet and shares the same valve section with  the earliest Two Star and Three Star model cornets.

The bell is very different from the Two and Three Star bells and demonstrates a unique instrument that Boston was making at that time.  While the bell flare is very similar to many others made by Boston, Courtois and Besson, the taper through the smaller portion of the bell is uncharacteristically large.  

The design is the same as those with one star engraved above “NE PLUS ULTRA” (photos below), confirming that this design was retroactively given the star when the Two and Three Star Cornets were introduced.   Lack of popularity likely caused Boston to abandon this design by about 1880. None are known with the later valve section with wider third slide crook and floating valve guides.  

These cornets are made of nickel silver, the length of the piston valve versions, without mouthpiece is 12 13/16" (the rotary version is about 3/8" shorter) and the bell rim diameter is 4 9/16".

The next two photos show a rotary valve version of this same model, not surprising, since all of the earliest Boston piston valve cornets had rotary valve equivalents.  It is in the same form as the Boston Band and Orchestra Models and those made by E.G. Wright since about 1863.  Notice that, while is has the Latin phrase engraved, has no stars, perhaps made immediately before the inclusion of the stars.   

The last photo is a line up of Boston cornets, in chronological order.   The first is the same as those made by EG Wright and was made within a few years of the formation of the new company.  The second is the “No Star” featured on this page.  The third is the earliest known piston valve Three Star cornet, made some time before 1879.  The third is a nickel silver Two Star from about 1882 and the last is Three Star from about 1900.