Echo cornet

The echo cornet is a duplex instrument, which means that it embodies the characteristics of two different instruments, and the player can choose freely between them. In this case, the cornet is supplied with a fourth piston and a second bell that tappers inversely, as compared with the main bell, thus producing a muted tone. The player could then choose between an "open" or a muted tone almost instantaneously, without having to recur to a separate mute. This example is made entirely of silver-plated brass, having three top-sprung piston valves, with coiled springs and metal pin guides, and cork bumpers. The shorter fourth piston valve activates the muted bell, and it is bottom-sprung with a metal guide pin on bottom of piston. The second bell attachment can be disassembled through a ligature screw ferrule joint with a heart-shaped screw head. There is a water-key on the leadpipe bow. The instrument is accompanied by an extra tuning slide for the third valve, two extra straight tuning bits, a lyre stand, and three silver plated mouthpieces. Nominal pitch: B-flat.