GERMAN or BOHEMIAN 19TH CENTURY CROOKS in a fitted wooden box

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£1,390.00

SOLD

AN INTERESTING SET OF EIGHT CROOKS,

TWO SPACERS / EXTENSIONS AND SEVERAL  MOUTHPIECES,

IN A FITTED LOCKABLE WOODEN BOX

   We do not have the actual horn for which these crooks

were clearly hand made.  I am 95% sure that it would have been a

German or possibly a Bohemian horn; also, if it still survives, in a

case or box somewhere, the E crook will be with it!

The boxed crooks, all of them bearing a small stamped brass plate

for identification, are:

Bb (alto), A, G, F, Es, D, C basso and Bb (basso).

Their appropriate compartments in the box are labelled:

B, A, G, F, E, D, C and B.

 There are 2 short interlocking tapered extensions, to lower the pitch, and a selection of quite small mouthpieces, all of them French style, surprisingly.  None of the mouthpieces are a good fit in the crooks' receivers, which are wider than those found on typical 19th century French crooks, so my guess is that none of the mouthpieces belong with these crooks. 

Photo #1 shows two typical modern mouthpieces, an Alexander and a PHC (not included with the crooks) fitting deeply into the receivers.

 Several of the crooks have evidently been repaired at a rather vulnerable point where the tenon protrudes from the crook body, unsupported by either a brace or a solder joint such as is usually found on later crooks. The heavier crooks, D, C and Bb basso, seem to have been subject to some ergonomic strain in this respect.

   All the crooks play well, and even the C and Bb basso crooks are more free-blowing than many French examples.

 The photos can be viewed in greater detail 

by opening and saving them.

Halstead Music Ltd acts as an agent only,

accepting no responsibility as a principal.

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