I’m compiling a database of all known Courtois cornets made before world war one, with serial numbers, medal dates and other data. Please email me with data from your Courtois cornets. robb@robbstewart.com

Soprano Cornets in Eb by Antoine Courtois

Antoine Courtois was making soprano cornets in Eb by 1853. While is seems likely that he was making them before that date, no traces have been found by this author. The earliest known example, made about 1855, has early Périnet valves of the original design patented in 1838. These were used by almost all Parisian makers up to that time, although Courtois’ version had his unique three tab floating valve guides. Its appearance is that of a contemporary Bb cornet with shorter mouthpipe and tuning slide assemblies substituted. It is in an excellent state of preservation including original silver plating and case with shanks and crooks for high and low pitch from Eb to G.

Click on images for larger views.

The second oldest Eb cornet by Courtois known was made about 1867 and is a short model appearing almost a miniature of a Bb cornet in proportions. It is preserved with its original shanks for Eb and D and a crook for C. The shape of the mouthpipe and tuning slide assemblies are similar Courtois’ “Koenig’s Model” Bb with water slide that was introduced in about 1856. This model Eb cornet continued in production into the 20th century. Later examples have a water key on the mouthpipe curve. Other French makers were offering very similar cornets, including Adolphe Sax by 1865, although with a wider curve in the mouthpipe, like a miniature Arban or Levy’s model.

Courtois’ next design is illustrated below, a long model with two “droops” in the tubing, similar to the “shepherds’ crook” design seen in Bb cornets. It is actually an inch longer than the Bb cornets at 13 5/16”. The photos are of the earliest known example that was made about 1872. This model was available at least until the early 1880s. No explanation has been found for these two contemporary models. In both, the bore through the valves is about .400”, but the long model has a noticeably larger bell flare, which would give it a different, presumably darker timbre. The short valve casings don’t allow Courtois’ unique floating guide as in the other models above. The guides are single lugs fixed on the pistons, riding in grooves or keyways inside the casings as used in Courtois’ larger instruments, Besson cornets and many others.

A fourth variation of soprano cornets made by Courtois is represented by just two known examples, both pitched in F and both made in the mid-1870s. Interestingly, these have the valves guided by screws through the valve casings registering in grooves or rabbets in the lower pistons, a design that is not seen in any other of Courtois’ cornets, but was used in the trumpets that they were making in these years.