I just picked up an ancient 's curve' cornet which has the smallest mouthpipe I have ever found. In my extensive collection of cornet mouthpieces I can find none that will fit into the mouthpipe. It is tiny. Anyone got an old undersized shank cornet mouthpiece for this old piece? I have the notion that it will play well, as the valves are all snug with no perceptible leakage when blowing as hard as I can into the mouthpipe with the bell plugged with a soft rubber ball. It is a very small bore horn and I wonder if it is a soprano cornet. I can't check what key it is made for until I find a mouthpiece.
OLDLOU>>
OLDLOU
Update on old 'S CURVE' cornet.
I found in my collection of old moutpieces a Holton conical deep cup mouthpiece that will just barely fit into the pouthpipe of this ancient cornet. With a Korg electronic tuning device I discovered that the old girl is a Bb horn. It plays wonderfully with a rather piercing tone. In the obove the staff notes it is very easy to go much higher than is my normal range. The pedal tones are noticibly weak, but solid. The mouthpipe I.D. measures .335" with my dial caliper. All of my other cornets measure .365"- .370" at the mouthpipe opening. I still think that this is a Bb soprano cornet. I once owned an Eb soprano to play 'The Trumpet Shall Sound' from The Messiah. I wish that I had the moutpiece for that one back for testing in this old girl.
Anyone out there with a shallow cup mouthpiece that will fit into the tiny mouthpipe of my new acquisition? On second thought, where can I order one?
OLDLOU>>
bandman
Lou,
I spoke with a local collector who knows much more about cornets than I do. He was stumped by your quandry. At this point, if you really want to play this instrument, I would suggest you contact Terry Warburton. He owns Warburton Music Products which is in the process of rebuilding after a terrible fire that destroyed his plant. His new plant will be open in a month or so, but he might answer an Email from you telling you what he may know about your new (old) instrument.
Terry is one of the foremost experts in mouthpieces in the world. If he can't help you with this then I would say you may be out of luck.