Keyed Bugle in Eb by E.G. Wright

Elbridge G. Wright started building brass instruments in the 1830s and moved to Boston by 1841 where he made a speciality of making the small Eb keyed bugles designed by Henry Sibley of that city.  These were the most popular solo instruments of brass bands that were being formed all over the US.  

It is widely thought that Wright made the finest keyed bugles in the world, sometimes of Sterling silver, occasionally trimmed with gold and in at least one instrument entirely out of gold.  Most were copper with brass or German silver trim, but this is one of the rarest, being made entirely of German silver.  From what little evidence we have, it appears that Wright first started using nickel silver for complete instruments in 1853, which is about when this one was made. With decorative engraving it was likely made to be presented to an important player.  It has ten keys mounted with hinge tubes on posts on heart shaped flanges that were a trademark of the Boston keyed bugle makers.  

The tuning mouthpipe shank and mouthpiece are reproductions of known originals.  It is 13 3/8" long with the shank and mouthpiece removed and the bell diameter is 4 1/2".  In the 1950s and 1960s it was owned by Elden Benge and after his death went to Irving Bush.

The last photo below shows this bugle above a very similar 11 key example made by Wright of Sterling silver (collection of Steve Ward). 

Wright history from Robert E. Eliason, Early American Brass Makers, The Brass Press, 1979.