Buescher B-Flat/A Cornet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This cornet was made by the Buescher Band Instrument Co. in Elkhart, Indiana in 1912. It is a B-flat/A cornet, serial #15133, made of silver plated brass, and has 3 Périnet piston valves and a quick change slide. This cornet is accessioned with a period wooden case covered with black leatherette and lined with green plush. The cornet is engraved:

Ferdinand August “Gus” Buescher (1861-1937) began his career making instruments with the C.G. Conn Company in 1876. In late 1894, Buescher started his firm, in partnership with clothing merchant John L. Collins and salesman Harry L. Long, and formed the Buescher Manufacturing Company in Elkhart. By 1904, the company name was changed to the Buescher Band Instrument Company.

In 1916, Buescher sold a major share of the company and remained with the company until his resignation in 1929.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1912
• maker: Buescher Band Instrument Co.
• maker: Buescher Band Instrument Co.
• Object Name: cornet
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 14 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in x 7 in; 36.195 cm x 12.065 cm x 17.78 cm
• Measurements: cornet: 14 1/4 in x 7 1/4 in x 4 5/8 in; 36.195 cm x 18.415 cm x 11.7475 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece: 2 3/8 in x 1 1/16 in; 6.0325 cm x 2.69875 cm
• place made: United States: Indiana, Elkhart
• ID Number: 1985.0017.09
• accession number: 1985.0017
• catalog number: 1985.0017.09
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.