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MARTIN FILS AINE mid-19th century hand horn with F and Eb crooks
£650.00
'MARTIN Fils Ainé' was a
renowned 19th century musical
instrument retailer in Toulouse,
France, not a specialist
horn maker as such.
There is a strong probability that this excellent,
free-blowing hand horn, with several Germanic
(rather than French) features, is a 'stencil'
instrument; meaning that it may have been made
by a horn maker in the Toulouse area and
subsequently stamped / engraved with Martin's
name.
Geographically, the nearest brass workshop
was that of GAUTIER.
There are several expertly-made patches on
the horn body. As can be seen in the photos, the
inside of the bell flare (diameter 28.3mm) is matt
black.
There is a very good, much-used F crook, and
an Eb crook that is less 'visually challenged'.
Both crooks have excellent, 'well slotted' high
registers.
The pitch of the horn is about A442 with the
tuning slide fully inserted; the length of the
slide (8.5cm) easily allows lower pitches down
to A435, and, with the slide at the extreme end
of its travel, A430.
NB: a Webb-Halstead C alto crook is optionally
available for £105.
See https://www.halsteadmusic.co.uk/shop/accesso
ries-cases-leadpipe-crooks-etc/schmidcrooks
The overall 'blowing feel' of the horn is very similar
to that of the John Webb Bohemian model; its
central bore is 11.4mm, so, 0.1mm wider than the
Webb's 11.3mm.
The crook receiver on the horn body has an internal
taper that is the same as that of Webb crooks and
older Paxman crooks (1982 to mid-1990s), both of
which are acoustically compatible with this horn.
The photos can be viewed in greater detail
by opening and saving them.
Halstead Music acts as an agent only,
accepting no responsibility as a principal.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd.