Emil K. Blessing B-Flat Cornet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This cornet was made by Emil K. Blessing in Elkhart, Indiana around 1915 - 1925.

It is a B-flat cornet, serial #15552, made of brass and has 3 piston valves. This cornet was accessioned with an original case and accessories. This cornet is engraved:

Emil Karl Blessing (1880-1954) immigrated to the United States in 1896. He began his career working for the Buescher Band Instrument Co. in Elkhart, Indiana. After stints with the Mennonite Publishing House and Frank Holton, Blessing began making musical instruments on his own in Elkhart, Indiana in 1906. Emil Blessing led the company until his death in 1954. The company was run by his son E. Karl Blessing, Jr. and merged with the Martin Band Instrument Company in 1961.

This cornet features United States Patent #963272, awarded to Emil K. Blessing on July 5, 1910 for “Improvements for Valves for Wind Instruments.”

This cornet was previously owned and used by the donors’ father, Francis Morton Messick (1908-1969).

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1915-1925
• maker: Blessing, Emil K.
• Object Name: cornet
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Measurements: cornet: 16 1/8 in x 4 7/8 in x 6 5/8 in; 40.9575 cm x 12.3825 cm x 16.8275 cm
• Measurements: black mute: 8 1/2 in x 3 1/8 in; 21.59 cm x 7.9375 cm
• Measurements: gold mute: 7 3/8 in x 4 in; 18.7325 cm x 10.16 cm
• Measurements: overall: 16 in x 5 in x 6 1/2 in; 40.64 cm x 12.7 cm x 16.51 cm
• place made: United States: Indiana, Elkhart
• ID Number: 1990.0290.01
• accession number: 1990.0290
• catalog number: 1990.0290.01
• Credit Line: Gift of James Robert Messick and Frederick M. Messick
• 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.