J.W. York & Sons B-Flat/A Cornet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This cornet was made by J. W. York & Sons in Grand Rapids, Michigan about 1907. It is a B-flat/A cornet, Professional model serial #17527, made of silver plated brass with 3 piston valves. This cornet is accessioned with an original case and accessories. It is engraved:

James Warren York (1839-1927) began his career as a cornet player in Grand Rapids, Michigan and started repairing and making instruments in 1884. In 1887, the company was renamed York & Son, to commemorate the birth of his first son Charles E. York. Eleven years later, the company was changed to York & Sons, with the birth of York’s second son, Frank W. York. The company went through other name changes before the last name change as York Band Instrument Company. In 1917, James Warren York retired from the business and by 1926, the York family relinquished all control of the company and was subsequently purchased by Carl Fischer.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1907
• maker: J. W. York & Sons
• Object Name: cornet
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 13 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 7 1/2 in; 34.29 cm x 11.43 cm x 19.05 cm
• Measurements: cornet: 13 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 7 1/8 in; 34.29 cm x 11.43 cm x 18.0975 cm
• Measurements: longest crook: 4 7/8 in x 1 1/4 in x 1/2 in; 12.3825 cm x 3.175 cm x 1.27 cm
• Measurements: widest crook: 4 1/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 5/8 in; 10.795 cm x 6.35 cm x 1.5875 cm
• Measurements: mouthpieces: 2 3/8 in x 1 1/8 in; 6.0325 cm x 2.8575 cm
• place made: United States: Michigan, Grand Rapids
• ID Number: 1998.0131.01
• accession number: 1998.0131
• catalog number: 1998.0131.01
• serial number: 17527
• Credit Line: Gift of Bernard F. Fetter, M.D.
• 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.