1911 Conn Mellophone #118341
Composite creation from Zorba's photos courtesy Horn-U-Copia.Please note: This page is about Conn "classic" or "concert" mellophones, not the modern marching instrument.
Comments/questions are always welcomed, just go to my Contact Form, and select "Mellophone" for the subject.
"Centuries" before I was known as "Zorba", I played French Horn for about 25 years. I first learned how to play Mellophone starting in 5th grade, then after about a year or so with that, then I graduated to the French Horn. For some unexplainable reason, I recently got a hankering to pick up a Mellophone again. I actually contacted my old school district to see if they perchance still had the Mellophone I played ca 1971 and if they did, were they still using it? And if they weren't, would they sell it to me? I had always remembered it being an Olds instrument, #196767 - a number that is pretty easy to remember. I never remembered the serial numbers of any of the French Horns I played and owned, but never forgot that Mellophone! Unfortunately, despite an extensive search, the current band leader couldn't locate that instrument, or indeed any Mellophones at all. So that was out...
So when I saw this one on eBay for a good price, I bought it. The seller was semi-local to me, so we were able to arrange to meet in person so that this caseless instrument wouldn't be exposed to the hazards of shipping via "Fed-Up", "Universal Package Smashers", or "United States Package Smashers"! Being as the instrument didn't have a case, that was a good thing!
I've always been an Olds or a Holton man, I never warmed as much to the Conn French Horn I played for a bit in High School before getting my own horn - so it was a mental adjustment to acquire a Conn instrument! According to online serial number lists, it was made sometime in 1909, 1910, or 1911. The list that has its serial number, #118341 listed as 1910 claims multiple corrections were made to their list. However, the Conn factory burned down in mid 1910, and was rebuilt and restarted production late that year. Several new models of their various instruments were apparently introduced in 1911; thus my current thinking is that it had to have been made in 1911; 1910 or 1909 were pre-fire - research is ongoing. See "Discussion", below.
So I cleaned it up and its in pretty darn good shape overall. No broken solder joints, bell dents have been ironed out, the valves are in decent shape - albeit with their plating worn away, etc. The Eb leadpipe was poorly repaired at some point, and there's that dent/crease/bend in the F leadpipe which I had fixed (see below).
Zorba, next to his late mother, first day with Olds Mellophone
#196767. I didn't even know how to hold the thing yet!
It was very similar to this one, albeit with lacquered brass.
eBay pic: The instrument I acquired, Conn #118341
eBay pic.
eBay pic.
eBay pic.
eBay pic.
eBay pic.
eBay pic.
eBay pic, showing the "F" leadpipe installed.
eBay pic, top to bottom: C,D, and Eb leadpipes. See text.
eBay pic.
Messing around with it when I got it home. Seller threw in a Cornet mouthpiece.
As I recall, French Horns won't stand on their bells like this.
Key of C leadpipe installed, see text.
Key of D leadpipe installed.
Key of Eb leadpipe installed.
Key of F leadpipe installed.
Entire instrument is heavily tarnished. It may stay that way...
It even has the lyre screw, which usually disappears on old horns. No lyre though.
Bach 7C Cornet mouthpiece. Well regarded for Cornets, not so hot for this instrument.
"F" leadpipe is bent. Got it fixed. See text.
Inspecting a valve.
Possibly original cork bumper pad?
Where it came from.
And the other end.
Mouthpiece won't fit without one of the leadpipes installed.
Goddess knows what the key might be without, perhaps a flat F#?
Eb leadpipe has been repaired, rather poorly.
"The bigger the glob, the better the job!"
UPDATE:
Took it to the local brass shop. A small crack was repaired, and
a bend was removed, but the tech advised to leave the glob alone.
The F leadpipe showing the bend...
The bell has seen damage over the years, but someone repaired it quite well.
Time to clean the thing!
Soaked in dish detergent and baking soda mix before starting to clean...
Corks and felts from the valves.
Brushing out a leadpipe.
All done.
Drying out before re-assembly.
Tuning lines on the valve slides. All the way in for F according to period literature, first
line for Eb, next for D and furthest out for C. Almost unplayable in C without doing this.
The valve pistons are actually serialized to the instrument, kind of like gun parts from the same
period. Each also bears its valve number, although its normally hidden under the cork bumpers.
These horns were reportedly originally supplied with 2 mouthpieces, one for F/Eb, the other for D and C - or so I assume. As the only mouthpiece I have for the horn as I write this (another is on the way!) is a Cornet mouthpiece, the results are sub-optimal. With this mouthpiece and the F leadpipe, notes start to deteriorate below treble clef first line "E" (written), and pretty much drop off entirely below middle C - that isn't right. So I'll see what the Hell after I get a (hopefully) better matched mouthpiece.
As for the silver tarnish, I'm leaving it be for now, and possibly permanently. There is no lacquer on the instrument, and if I polish the silver plating, it will just tarnish again, plus if I use silver polish on it, it will remove actual silver. A chemical dip supposedly can reconstitute the tarnish back into silver, but doing an object this large is problematic and I had less than steller results on a silver plated spoon I tried it with. We'll see, it actually looks kind of cool the way it is!
I played pretty much nothing but Vincent Bach mouthpieces in my French Horn days, so it was only natural that I'd turn to them for a Mellophone mouthpiece as well. I chose a #6, which is described as being the same as their well regarded #5, but slightly smaller. Intonation in the Mellophone's normal range is far better than with the Cornet mouthpiece, which only makes sense. It should be as the mouthpiece cost literally 50% of what I paid for the horn! Low range now starts at A below the staff (written) and extends to top line F easily enough, with above staff G doable, and even A above the staff with some effort. This model Mellophone reportedly was shipped with two mouthpieces from the factory. From Conn's "Conn's Truth" of 1900: Each New Wonder Mello-Phone (sic) will be accompanied with two mouthpieces. One for French Horn substitute and one for Ballad and Alto playing. Both mouthpieces will have the same size face or rim. The difference being only in the depth of bowl and diameter of the throat. Elsewhere, Conn claimed key of F and D were for French Horn orchestral work, Eb for band work, and C for home (with piano) or church settings. I'd think the mouthpieces would divide better with one for F/Eb, the other D and C - but what do I know?
Very pretty, but very wrong mouthpiece (L) purchased on Amazon...
The Cornet mouthpiece (R) actually fits inside the shank of this thing - so back it goes!
Try #2 to buy a real Mellophone mouthpiece. Slightly smaller shank won't allow the Cornet
mouthpiece (R) to go inside like the above, but otherwise very similar! Back to eBay it goes!
A quick visit to the local brass shop got the F leadpipe ironed out.
The tech also added the green felt washers to correct valve placement.
Try #3 to buy a real Mellophone mouthpiece. Third time's the charm! Same size overall
as well as shank as the Cornet mouthpiece (R). Vincent Bach #6 Mellophone mouthpiece.
Larger diameter and much deeper cup than the Cornet version. Somewhat better low
range, FAR better intonation, and perhaps not quite as good a high range. See text.
Installed in the "C" leadpipe.
If I can locate the French Horn mouthpieces I think I still have, I'll get an adaptor and see if this horn can climb into the higher register a bit more - but A below the staff to A above is about the most I can get out of it at this time with my 25 year rusty chops, with the F leadpipe at least. Besides, its a Mellophone, not a French Horn; it isn't going to have the range of the latter.
A video I made about the thing - including some horrid playing!
An update/correction video with a demonstration of each leadpipe.
Found online: A slightly newer example #127369 circa 1912, showing
the two mouthpieces these horns came with, the two main tuning slides
(one for High Pitch, one for Low Pitch), as well as the case. This one
has been polished, and the Eb leadpipe is in much better condition.
A ding discovered in the bell...
Nasty looking, but...
...easy to deal with with these repurposed tools!
Fixed. The metal looks different as it was somewhat polished in the
process of the repair, but you can't even feel where the ding used to be!
Polished it after all, beautiful engraving on bell.
Bottomside.
Topside.
Closeup.
Bell interior.I just couldn't stand it - bought some silver polish supposedly for old silver plated instruments like this, and went to town with a polishing rag. It came out looking far better than I expected - looks brand new at "stage distances". It does tend to show fingerprints now. We'll see how long it stays looking good - took about 3 hours...
Not happy with the valve spring tension, what was in the horn when I got it was too weak, the tech tightened them up by stretching them which was somewhat better. Tried to find some new ones. What I ended up with seemed to be a better match diameter-wise, but was also too weak. Stretching the new ones gave me results similar to stretching the old ones. By accident, I installed both into one valve and liked the results - so that's what I've done. For now. The tension may be too much for extended playing, but for the time being, I'll leave it like this. It may very well have been perfect had neither of the springs been stretched out.
Existing valve spring, right with attempted replacement, left.
Combined into one!Update:
The combined springs didn't work so well because the springs that were in the horn when I got it were the wrong diameter - too small. The combination of the two springs resulted in a kind of crunching sound. After some experimentation, I've settled in a second set of springs, identical to the first, combined into one similar to the above. These springs are too weak with just one, but work fine with two - without the crunching sound upon valve activation. If I were able to identify the "correct" springs for this instrument, this hack wouldn't be necessary - but it works pretty well all the same.
I also used toothpaste and a toothbrush and "brushed the horn's teeth" - an old trick to clean out the valve cylinders. Seems to have helped, there were brown deposits that were dissolving in the valve oil, this treatment removed it - temporarily. There is now more dissolved brown in the valve oil, so I don't know the how/why of it - more research is needed. Is it just more dirt being dissolved or is it brass tarnish that I'm seeing?
Speaking of valve oil, upon researching worn valves like this horn has - I tried sewing machine oil instead of regular valve oil. WHAT. A. DIFFERENCE. The thicker oil gives a much better feel to the valves, they're much smoother in operation, and seems to have improved intonation somewhat as well - a known benefit of using heavier oil in well worn valves. Hopefully being thicker, the oil won't run out of the valve as much as regular valve oil does.
Modified French Horn wall bracket holds the Mellophone out of harm's way.
There it is!
The first/last/only picture of both the Mellophone as well as the Cornet in the same place at the same time!
Discussion:
Like everything else I do, I researched the hell out of this. Old things fascinate me, and I like to find out as much of their history as possible. The following is what I've found out so far, with the caveat that doing archeological research on a 111 year old horn via the Internet can be challenging. Sources contradict each other, many details are lost in the mists of time, people make ASS-U-ME-tions (assumptions) and/or make things up. One well known site devoted to the brand has multiple and very obvious errors, and to make matters worse; the site is apparently abandoned so no corrections or discussions seem to be possible. Errors and outright fabrications are everywhere on the 'net. For instance, the above 1912 instrument was being sold as a model 6D French Horn - clearly it is not! Another Lulu that wasted a bunch of my time before I could prove it wrong: Conn 6E instruments were NOT introduced in 1911 as reported in several places - Conn didn't use the numerica-alpha model numbers until about a decade later! Other changes that confuses research over a century later could have been a simple production change that at the time meant little or nothing.
The curious situation of valve angle: Most "Classic" Mellophones of any/all makes have their valves in a completely vertical - or coplanar with the valve slides - orientation. Others, such as the Olds pictured near the top of this page, have them slightly angled, maybe 10 degrees or so. The Conn Mellophone detailed here, as well as all Conns built between 1911 and the early 1930s had the valves angled considerably steeper, about 45 degrees. As its been 50+ years since I played the Olds so I cannot say for certain, but it would seem to me that the sharply angled valve setup as found on my Conn would be more comfortable to play. Interestingly, very few Mellophones other than Conns of this period had valves set at any significant angle. I searched the Horn-U-Copia site and examined 335 Mellphone images, plus a few elsewhere. Other than the period Conns, the only ones I found were a certain Lyon & Healy model, a Martin, a Buescher, something called a "Harwood", a Triebert, and all Mellophones built by Couturier (This last first built instruments for Lyon & Healy, and then was eventually bought out by them). Another Lyon & Healy (apparently built by someone other than Couturier) was somewhere in-between, looks like maybe 15 degrees of angle. All others were vertical or near-vertical, including the only Classic Mellophones of new manufacture I could find: Instruments made in India and sold on eBay among other places. There were also other oddities such as rotary valves, and/or valves set into the middle of the circle that were operated by the bellside hand, two valve instruments, etc.
It may make sense to skip the rather large amount of my psychobabble and go directly to the large table that I've made of the data found thus far!
This research is limited to Conn "Classic" aka "Concert" Mellophones and the Conn instrument mostly called a "'French Horn' model Alto", which may have started out as the exact same instrument, but with different leadpipes provided; they eventually diverged somewhat with the latter being larger in size than the former. The "Balad Horn" which is yet another similar but not-a-French-Horn instrument (in key of C or Bb), is NOT included in this research - and is more like a right handed piston valved French Horn than a Mellophone as it has considerably more tubing. One very knowledgeable source claims the Mellophone is "descended" from the Balad horn. I have also encountered a 1926 Conn Brochure stating that their Balad horn was referred to as a model 8E. Whether or not there was also a high pitch 9E version is unknown.
There was also a series of stores owned by Conn at one point - of these, at least one had its own line of instruments, "Conn of Kansas City" (AKA "CKC"). A "Liberty" Mellophone was sold by them. What connection/relationship this line had with the regular Conn instruments remains obscure. It looks similar to a "Pan American" horn, but it also looks similar to a couple of Buescher and Elkhart instruments as well. In any event, "CKC" and other Conn sub brands are currently outside the scope of this page.
There are gaps in the data due to the availability or non-availability of reference material for a given year. Names changed, data and names both contradict themselves between various publications even in the same year, etc. The first Mellophone listed here is from 1897, which was the model built previous to the premiere of mine. This is not to suggest that mellophones suddenly burst on the scene in 1897, merely that this was the oldest reference I was able to find from the available, but patchy documentation. An 1894 price list doesn't show a Mellophone, but does show a Balad Horn in C & Bb. Other oddities such as a piston valve French Horn with four or even TEN crooks are also found in early Conn literature. But once Mellophones were introduced, they continued to be produced in various forms by Conn through 1942 when World War 2 stopped musical instrument production there. From the limited amount of data I was able to find, apparently Mellophones weren't built again (by Conn) until well after the end of the war. The 14E appears in a 1958 catalog and is completely conventional in all respects, and the late 50s (by 1957) saw the introduction of the famed 16E "Mellophonium" of Stan Kenton fame.
I undertook an exhaustive search for period literature, particularly catalogs which I consider a "Primary Source". A few photographs helped re-enforce the catalog data, but are considered secondary sources at best. I have attempted to keep this page limited to "original research", depending on primary sources only. Conjecture and secondary sources are (hopefully) clearly identified when quoted. This also means that there are other models of Conn Mellophones which do not appear here at all as I have yet to find any primary sources that refer to them. There was apparently an abortion ca 1907 or so that had a huge rotary valve in the middle of a rat's nest of tubing that allowed selecting the "usual" 4 keys (F,Eb,D, & C). This horn has not shown up in any Conn literature to which I have access (See below inset). There also seems to be something called a 51E "International" which is also absent from any primary sources I've seen. I also have omitted the famous 16E "Mellophonium" as its a unique instrument and not a "classic" or "concert" mellophone per se, but rather an early marching instrument. With that said, I'm on the hunt for an affordable example.
The real problem is that I was only able to locate catalogs from a few years. Conn's newsletter, "Conn's Truth" (Sometimes referred to as "Musical Truth") helped some, but the data therein usually wasn't nearly as complete as what was found in catalogs. "Conn's Truth" was also apparently published sporadically - and its contents were sporadic as well. As it wasn't a catalog per se, not all (available) editions show all instruments. For example: Three 1904 editions were consulted, all Three had "Mello-Phone" listed; yet other editions in other years did not, or only in 1 edition and not another! Multiple gaps remain. The pertinent data is summarized in a rather large table, below. After sifting through all the Conn literature I was able to locate online (most of it on a Saxophone site of all things), I have come to the following conclusions:
Note on pitch standards:
HP=Conn's version of "High Pitch" A=457 - sometimes known as U.S. Military high pitch, not to be confused with "U.S. high pitch" which was A=452.5!
LP=Conn's version of "Low Pitch" A=440 which is today's "Standard Pitch", although some so-called "low pitch" non-Conn instruments were at the old A=435 standard.The previous model to mine, the "New Wonder" I first saw in a 1899 "Conn's Truth" where it was apparently HP only, no mention of a LP slide - and "ditto" for 1900. In 1901, the same horn appears with an LP slide included, and remained the same in 1902 through at least 1904. In, or by, 1906, an extra 2nd valve slide suddenly appears without explanation. No 1905 data available to see if said slide was introduced that year - its also entirely possible the thing had the extra slide the entire time but it just wasn't shown. I haven't found any factory literature between 1907 to 1910 inclusive. This is important because:
"Perfected Wonder Mellophone"
Conn Perfected Wonder MellophoneThis particular picture of this particular instrument is found in multiple places on the 'net. In addition, Horn-U-Copia has pictures of two more. The huge rotary valve in the middle of the rat's nest of tubing selects the "usual" 4 keys (F,Eb,D, & C). One would assume that the valve slides would be marked for each key similar to my own Mellophone. Other than running across the occasional picture, no other information seems to be forthcoming on this horn. One researcher at Horn-U-Copia has logged a total of 17 of these, all dating from 1907 to 1910 inclusive - the EXACT years to which I have no access to any Conn factory literature, no catalogs, no price lists, - and this instrument doesn't appear in any other literature before or after that I know of.
UPDATE: A couple of owners of this instrument have contacted me, one of them ran down an article in a 1910 issue of "Conn's Truth" that shows a pair of these in use in a military band. There it was referred to as a "Perfected Wonder Mellophone" which makes sense as its familial resemblance to the earlier "Wonder Mellophone" is unmistakeable. The 1910 article gives us a name, but not much more information.
Another UPDATE: Stumbled upon a German language page that also is tracking serial numbers of this instrument. Had roughly the same quantity listed as the guy on Horn-U-Copia, with considerable overlap. But the German list also had several the Horn-U-Copia guy did not, so obviously I let him know about it so he could update his own list with the new material. In addition, this page has an excerpt from a 1909 edition of "Conn's Truth" that details this horn.
My GUESS: The instrument was introduced ca 1907 as a "Deluxe" option. The existence of a 1908 "Wonder Mellophone" (see data table) would seem to indicate this "Perfected Wonder" was produced simultaneously, not as a replacement for the former. It was expensive to produce, heavy to hold (4-½lbs vs slightly over 3-½lbs for my model), and most likely didn't sell well. When the factory burned down in 1910, production wasn't resumed on this model (actually neither model) at the new factory either due to loss of plans and/or fixtures, or more likely was simply abandoned as a bad idea. However, despite my original thought that it would have bad intonation issues, its reported that it plays at least as well as the other, more conventional Conn Mellophones, such as my own.
A very simplified version of this idea would return in the mid 1930s, where a vastly smaller rotary valve selected between F and Eb. That version remained in production until World War 2, but was replaced by a new design (without the rotary valve) after the war.
In 1911 - apparently the introduction year for a new model built at the new post-fire factory - was apparently called a "French Horn Model Alto" according to a 1911 "Conn's Truth", with F, Eb, D & C leadpipes as well as main tuning slides for both HP and LP. This was a change from the previous instruments which had used crooks or a rotary valve to change keys and also employed top sprung valves in leu of the newly introduced bottom springs on the new instrument. No 1911 catalog was available that might have more information. My instrument dates from this year.
No 1912 info available.
In - or by - 1913, what appears to be the exact same horn was then called the "New Invention Model Mellophone" per the 1913 catalog, also with F, Eb, D & C leadpipes. A "New Invention French Horn Model Alto" was also available, but only with Eb and C leadpipes. So the supported keys were swapped around and so was the model name. Apparently! HP and LP main slides were provided for both instruments. The two instruments MAY have been identical at this point in time except for which leadpipes were provided - but in later years the "French Horn" Alto was slightly larger than the Mellophone from a picture of both instruments shown together (below).
1914 appears to be the same as 1913 for both instruments.
In 1917, or by 1917, was apparently when the two started changing. The "French Horn Alto" still had its Eb and C leadpipes, but the Mellophone - now called the "New Wonder", went with F, Eb, D & C main slide crooks in lieu of leadpipes, plus some stylistic changes. This latter horn would play in HP with whatever crook was installed, or a switch to LP with a main slide extension that the crooks plugged into.
By 1919, both instruments were apparently available only as HP or LP - chosen at time of purchase, forgoing including both types of main slides as was done previously. The "French Horn Alto" dropped the C leadpipe and became Eb only, whereas the Mellophone continued with crooks for the usual 4 keys.
By 1924, the familiar 6E/7E (French Horn Alto) and 4E/5E (Mellophone) nomenclature had appeared alongside the previous names (see table). When the numeric-alpha call-outs first started cannot be determined from this data. I've heard 1920, pretty certain it couldn't have been before that year as a 1920 "Conn's Truth" did NOT utilize them - and neither did a 1922 edition of the same; although as dysfunctional as some of Conn's literature seems to be, its may be possible that the numeric-alpha designations were in the catalogs, but not other publications. Even numbers (4E/6E) were LP, odds (5E/7E) were HP - according to the 1924 catalog. According to the 1924 price list, the odd numbers were both HP and LP, presumably switched with different main slides. How long this discord lasted is unknown.
With the above said, an expert at Horn-U-Copia states the numeric-alpha designations started in 1919. He's been studying this type of thing for many years, so I'm more than a bit inclined to believe him. He told me the literature took time to catch up as it was both difficult and expensive to revise it when there was little need to do so. However, I do not know what data he's basing the 1919 date on - but its "close enough" to the oft reported 1920 date. Adding to the confusion is the apparent factoid that Conn either never labeled the actual instruments with the numeric-alpha designations -=OR=- they only did so much later than the time period under consideration.
The situation was identical in 1928 - and presumably 1927 as well.
Courtesy of Horn-U-Copia, comparison picture: 6E/7E on left, 4E/5E on right. Years
unspecified but would seem to be sometime between 1917-ish and the early 1930s.
This brochure page, reportedly from 1926, extolls the features of the 4E and 6E.
Curiously, no mention of the 5E and 7E. Image courtesy of Dick Martz.1929 and 1931 both had ONLY the 4E listed (no 5E, thus no more HP), still with all 4 keys of main slide crooks. The 6E/7E "French Horn Alto" was gone as well. 1930 presumed to be the same. However, the 5E, 6E, and 7E all re-appeared in the 1931 pricelist, but not the catalog. See notes below.
By 1935 however, the 4E underwent a complete redesign. Valve angle returned to the straight pre-1911 angle, top and bottom were swapped so the main slide was now on top, valve slides on the bottom, and the main slide had a rotary valve to select between F and Eb. This slide could be removed completely and replaced with one to play in C. Key of D capability was lost. Presumably the the 5E, 6E, and 7E were gone for good at this point. This odd "inverted" style apparently came into fashion as several other Mellophone manufacturers, including King, made similar instruments about this time.
Interestingly, the post-war 14E was a return to a conventional layout with valve slides on top, main slide on bottom, and only F and Eb crooks. No C crook, no F/Eb change valve, straight valves. Why was this done? I can only speculate that the conventional, non-marching "Concert" Mellophone was a dying instrument by this point, sales were probably declining, so features were removed to compete with other Mellophones of the time which all pretty much meet this description. Apparently, the 14E first came out in 1958 as it shows in the catalog from that year along with the 16E. The 16E in turn shows in the 1958 catalog, but not in the 1955 version. By 1971, apparently only the 16E "Mellophonium" soldiered on as the 14E doesn't appear in that year's catalog. The 14E did appear in the 1964 price list, but disappeared sometime in the intervening years although a 1974 parts catalog still mentions it - apparently because it shared parts in common with the 16E as that latter instrument is the only one photographed.
Getting back to my instrument, my take on all this is that it is the direct ancestor of the 4E/5E, but additional catalogs from the missing years would tighten this timeline up a bit. Several eBay pix with serial numbers were able to partially confirm things, but the best sources are the actual catalogs. Due to at least 3 different versions of the Conn serial number list, photograph dating could be off by as much as two years. I went by the Horn-U-Copia list, which seems to be the best researched. It could also be argued that my instrument is the direct ancestor of both the 4E/5E as well as the 6E/7E. Did the 6E/7E grow in size to become larger than the 4E/5E? Or did the 4E/5E shrink a bit?
Per the picture below, I found a 1912 instrument that is identical to mine, except for a stamping on the side of the 2nd valve "UNION LABEL" which my 1911 doesn't carry (It has a "Trade Mark" Eagle - AKA "Screaming Chicken" instead). Horn-U-Copia says this about it: 1906 - [Conn] began to exclusively use Union labor and instruments made between 1906 and 1916 bear a union label. However, The below picture shows that not all instruments were thus marked!
Top: My 1911 horn. Bottom: 1912 example. Note the two stampings are inverted from each other in orientation.
Union initials mean: "Metal Polishers, Buffers, Platers, Brass and Silver Workers", and was AFL affiliated.Possible explanation as suggested by the Horn-U-Copia forum: The valve assy could very well have been manufactured far earlier than the horn assembly date, and was in the bottom of a bin until 1911 when it was finally used by the then-Unionized workforce. This actually makes quite a bit of sense, as similar things often happened with firearms assembly, even as late as post World War 2.
As for playing it - the above referenced newly acquired mellophone mouthpiece is vastly better than the Cornet mouthpiece which is now in the hands of a happy cornetist by way of eBay! It plays pretty well in the keys of F and Eb, and not bad with the D crook - as long as you remember to set the valve slides to the appropriate marks. When the C crook is installed, intonation suffers in the very low end. Probably because it needs a different mouthpiece, and I have zero idea what that mouthpiece would look like or how it would differ from the Bach #6 that I have. Maybe I'll stumble across an original pair at some point...
Notes on the data:
1) Mellophone models made prior to my particular model all had vertical valves. Most other brands also had vertical, or near vertical valves as well. Instruments made from 1911 until the model 4E reconfiguration ca 1932-1935 had the more comfortable angled valves. Why they went back to vertical valves is unknown. See the above inset.
2) Many of these mellophones came with two 2nd valve slides as well, a long and a short. This was presumably done so the horn could be correctly tuned for all 4 keys that it supported. My 1911 instrument's 2nd valve slide is long enough to support the lower keys, yet short enough to support the upper - apparently not all versions were so "lucky". Other subtle differences in 2nd valve slides are noted in the table.
3) Conn's marketing people certainly couldn't figure out what to call the two versions. The "French Horn" Alto sometimes had "French Horn" in quotations, other times not. At least once it was referred to as a "Circular Alto", the "Wonder" and "New Wonder" nomenclatures came and went, "New Invention" was used for a short time, etc, etc. Once the numeric-alpha model designations came along (e.g. 4E), the names seemed to settle down somewhat. One writer refers to Conn's literature as being schizophrenic, I'm inclined to agree.
4) Note inconsistency between the 1924 pricelist and the 1924 catalog as to whether or not the 5E and 7E were HP, or HP/LP. Furthermore, a 1924 "Conn's Truth" indicates that the French Horn Model Alto does indeed come with a C crook in addition to its native key of Eb - neither the pricelist nor the catalog indicate this. And even beyond THAT, its full name in that edition of "Conn's Truth" is: CIRCULAR ALTO IN Eb WITH C CROOK, OR FRENCH HORN MODEL ALTO - which does NOT appear in the pricelist nor the catalog! The question then arises as to how Conn achieved HP/LP with the Mellophone's 4 key crooks, and the Alto's 2. A main slide extension as was done with the 1917 Mellophone? Perhaps that was never discontinued at all!
5) Both the 1926 pricelist and 1926 catalog agree that the 5E and 7E were HP only, even though their respective names differed between the publications. Several other inconsistencies and contradictions exist: The 1928 catalog and pricelist disagree on what the instruments are called, even though both were actually in the same booklet that year. Only the 4E appears in catalogs and "Conn's Truth" starting in 1929, yet the 4E, 5E, 6E, 7E all appear in the separate 1931 pricelist. This latter would seem to indicate that the 5E, 6E, and 7E were deprecated yet still available for bands that were still using them.
Conn "Classic" Mellophones and "French Horn" Altos 1897 - 1974
Source Year Model Name Model # Description Photograph 1897 Photograph appears
to match the 1899
New Wonder Mello-phone.--- Main Slide(s) missing
Leadpipes missingConn's Truth 1899 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
Apparently HP only
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at angleConn's Truth 1900 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
Apparently HP only
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at angleConn's Truth 1901 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
HP and LP slides provided
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at angleConn's Truth 1902 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
HP and LP slides provided
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at anglePhotograph 1902 Photograph appears
to match the 1902
New Wonder Mello-phone.--- Eb leadpipe and HP slide only Conn's Truth 1904 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
HP and LP slides provided
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at anglePhotograph 1905 Photograph appears
to match the 1904
New Wonder Mello-phone.--- F, Eb leadpipe and HP/LP slides Conn's Truth 1906 New Wonder Mello-phone ---- Main Slide end faces player
HP and LP slides provided
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
Extra 2nd slide, straight valves
2nd slide projects sideways at anglePhotographs 1907
1908See above insert:
Perfected Wonder Mellophone
Matches the 1909 "Conn's
Truth" illustration.--- Main Slide end faces player
2nd slide projects sideways at angle.
Straight valves
Huge rotary valve in middle of instrument
selects keys of F,Eb,D & CPhotograph 1908 Photograph appears
to match the 1906
New Wonder Mello-phone.--- Eb leadpipe and LP slide only Conn's Truth 1909 Perfected Wonder Mellophone
Brief description with line
drawings.---- Main Slide end faces player
2nd slide projects sideways at angle.
Straight valves
Huge rotary valve in middle of instrument
selects keys of F,Eb,D & CConn's Truth 1910 Perfected Wonder Mellophone
Article showing two of
these in use in a military band.---- Main Slide end faces player
2nd slide projects sideways at angle.
Straight valves
Huge rotary valve in middle of instrument
selects keys of F,Eb,D & CConn's Truth 1911 French Horn Model Alto ---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsActual Instrument 1911 Actual instrument
matches the 1911
French Horn Model Alto
in all respects.--- Missing HP slide. Catalog Page 1913 New Invention
French Horn Model Alto---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
Eb & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsCatalog Page 1913 New Invention
Model Mellophone---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsPhotograph 1913 Photograph doesn't
exactly match either type.
Perhaps w/replacement parts?--- 2nd slide projects downwards with ring (!!)
Main slide spit valve in odd
location/orientationCatalog Page 1914 New Invention
"French Horn" Model Alto---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
Eb & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsCatalog Page 1914 New Invention
Model Mellophone---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
F,Eb,D & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsSupplement Page * 1917 French Horn Model Alto ---- Main Slide end faces down
HP and LP slides provided
Angled Valves
Eb & C leadpipes
2nd slide projects downwards with nibsSupplement Page * 1917 New Wonder Mellophone ---- Main Slide end faces down
HP with an LP main slide extension
Extra 2nd slide, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks (use
with LP main slide extension for LP)
2nd slide projects downwards with ringPhotograph 1918 Photograph appears
to match the 1917
New Wonder Mellophone.??? Catalog Page 1919 New Wonder Model
"French Horn" Alto---- Main Slide end faces down
Apparently either HP or LP only, no extra slides
Angled Valves
Eb only, no crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page 1919 New Wonder Mellophone ---- Main Slide end faces down
Apparently either HP or LP only, no extra slides
Extra 2nd slide, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringPhotograph 1919 Photograph appears
to match the 1919 New
Wonder Model Mellophone
(has all four crooks).??? Conn's Truth 1920 Circular Alto --- Apparently the same as the 1919 "French Horn"
Alto. Lithograph only, no data.Conn's Truth 1920 Mellophone --- Apparently the same as the 1919 New Wonder
Mellophone. In F, Eb, D & C.Photograph 1921 Photograph appears
to match the 1919 New
Wonder Model Mellophone
(has C crook installed).??? Conn's Truth 1921 Circular Alto --- Exact same page as the 1920 edition. Conn's Truth 1921 Mellophone --- Exact same page as the 1920 edition. Conn's Truth 1922 Circular Alto --- Exact same page as the 1920 edition. Conn's Truth 1922 Mellophone --- Exact same page as the 1920 edition.. Photograph 1922 Photograph appears
to match the 1919 New
Wonder Model Mellophone
(has all four crooks).??? Photograph 1923 Photograph appears
to match the 1919 New
Wonder Model Mellophone
(has all four crooks).??? Price List 1924 French Horn Model Alto 6E, 7E No data, no picture. 6E=LP, 7E=HP & LP Price List 1924 Mellophone 4E, 5E No data, no picture. 4E=LP, 5E=HP & LP Catalog Page 1924 French Horn Alto 6E, 7E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
Angled Valves
Eb only, no crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page 1924 Wonder Mellophone 4E, 5E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringConn's Truth 1924 Circular Alto
French Horn Model Alto
(both names!)6E, 7E Key of Eb with C crook included - no
crook mentioned in catalog or pricelist.Conn's Truth 1924 Mellophone 4E, 5E Photograph 1925 Photograph appears
to match one of the 1919
instruments, main tuning
slide missing, no other
crooks present.??? Catalog Page 1926 French Horn Alto 6E, 7E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
Angled Valves
Eb only, no crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page 1926 Wonder Mellophone 4E, 5E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringPrice List 1926 French Horn Model Alto 6E, 7E No data, no picture. 6E=LP, 7E=HP Price List 1926 Mellophone 4E, 5E No data, no picture. 4E=LP, 5E=HP Price List 1927 French Horn Model Alto 6E, 7E No data, no picture. 6E=LP, 7E=HP Price List 1927 Mellophone 4E, 5E No data, no picture. 4E=LP, 5E=HP Conn's Truth 1927 New Wonder Mellophone 4E 5E, 6E, 7E aren't mentioned Catalog Page
Pricelist
(Same document)1928 French Horn Alto
French Horn Model Alto6E, 7E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
Angled Valves
Eb only, no crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page
Pricelist
(Same document)1928 Wonder Mellophone
Mellophone4E, 5E Main Slide end faces down
Select HP or LP only, no extra slides
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringConn's Truth 1928 Mellophone 4E 5E, 6E, 7E aren't mentioned Photograph 1929 Photograph appears to match
the 1928 7E7E Catalog Page 1929 Mellophone 4E Main Slide end faces down
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page 1930 Mellophone 4E Main Slide end faces down
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringCatalog Page 1931 Mellophone 4E Main Slide end faces down
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, angled valves
F,Eb, D & C main slide crooks
2nd slide projects downwards with ringPrice List 1931 French Horn Model Alto 6E, 7E No data, no picture. 6E=LP, 7E=HP Price List 1931 Mellophone 4E, 5E No data, no picture. 4E=LP, 5E=HP Brochure 1935 Mellophone (Complete redesign)
4E Main Slide end faces down
Valve slides are now on bottom of instrument
Main slide on top
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, straight valves
Rotary valve to select F/Eb in main slide,
with main slide crook for C
2nd slide type not shownCatalog 1937 Mellophone 4E Main Slide end faces down
Valve slides on bottom of instrument
Main slide on top
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, straight valves
Rotary valve to select F/Eb in main slide,
with main slide crook for C
2nd slide type not shownPhotograph 1937 Photograph appears
to match the 1937 catalog,
topside pic only.4E Catalog 1938 Mellophone 4E Main Slide end faces down
Valve slides on bottom of instrument
Main slide on top
LP only
No extra 2nd slide indicated, straight valves
Rotary valve to select F/Eb in main slide,
with main slide crook for C
2nd slide type not shownCatalog 1940 Mellophone 4E Photograph appears to match the 1935 4E,
topside pic only.Catalog 1941 Mellophone 4E Photograph appears to match the 1935 4E,
topside pic only.Conn's Truth 1941 Mellophone 4E Photograph appears to match the 1935 4E,
topside pic only.Photograph 1942 Photograph appears
to match the 1935 4E.4E 2nd slide projects sideways at
angle on bottom - no nibs or ring.Photograph 1957 Photograph appears
to match the 1958
Director F-Eb Mellophone14E Catalog Page 1958 Director F-Eb Mellophone
Post-war redesign14E Main Slide end faces down
LP only
No extra 2nd slide, straight valves
F &Eb main slide crooks
2nd slide projects sideways at anglePhotograph 1959 Photograph appears
to match the 1958
Director F-Eb Mellophone14E Price List 1964 F-Eb Mellophone
Small picture appears to be
identical to the 1958 horn14E Main Slide end faces down
LP only
No extra 2nd slide, straight valves
F &Eb main slide crooks
2nd slide projects sideways at anglePhotograph 1964 Photograph appears
to match the 1958
Director F-Eb Mellophone14E Parts Catalog 1974 14E and 16E (Mellophonium)
both called out, only 16E
photograph displayed.14E * Publication date uncertain, source claims 1917-1920
Lost?
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