U.S. Army Trumpet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This trumpet was made by Klemm & Brothers. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. around 1879 to 1891. It is an F natural trumpet made of brass brass, with a double coil and bell garland. This trumpet is stamped:

This is a standard military trumpet, made according to Specification No. 38, dated February 15th, 1879, “Specifications for Trumpets,” Quartermaster General’s Office, War Department:

“For all foot troops -- To be the same as standard sample brass trumpet ’F,’ two (2) coil, and with two (2) mouthpieces. When complete, with mouth-piece in, to weigh about twelve and a half (12 ½) ounces, and to measure about sixteen (16) inches in length, and about four and a half (4 ½) inches in width at center. Diameter of bell to be about four and a half (4 ½) inches.”

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1879-1891
• maker: Klemm & Brothers
• Object Name: trumpet
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 6 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 16 in; 16.51 cm x 11.43 cm x 40.64 cm
• place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• ID Number: MI.025147
• accession number: 64127
• catalog number: 025147
• Credit Line: Transfer from U.S. War Department
• 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. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation.