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 1909. It is a B-flat/A “long model” cornet, serial #9840, made of silver plated brass with 3 piston valves. The cornet is engraved:

This cornet features United States Patent #869619 granted to Ferdinand A. Buescher on October 29, 1907, for an “Improvement in Wind Musical Instruments,” specifically the manufacture and shape of the bell.

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: 1909
• 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: 25 in x 4 3/4 in x 6 3/4 in; 63.5 cm x 12.065 cm x 17.145 cm
• Measurements: overall: 15 in x 7 1/2 in x 5 in; 38.1 cm x 19.05 cm x 12.7 cm
• place made: United States: Indiana, Elkhart
• ID Number: 1985.0017.10
• accession number: 1985.0017
• catalog number: 1985.0017.10
• 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.