Wright Presentation Flugelhorn: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This flugelhorn was made by Elbridge G. Wright in Boston, Massachusetts, about 1863. It is a presentation flugelhorn in E-flat, made of nickel silver, with 3 string-action side-action rotary valves, and a screw adjusting lead pipe. Accessioned with period case. This instrument is engraved:

Presented by the Members of the 3d Brigade Band3d Div: 9th A.C. TO Wm. Critchley, Jr. LEADER July 4th 1863 Made by E.G. WRIGHT, Boston

The United States National Park Service Civil War database lists William J. Critchley as a principal musician and band leader serving in the Brigade Band (2nd/3rd Brigades, 1st-3rd Divisions, 7th/18th/24th Army Corps).

Elbridge G. Wright (1811-1871) began making musical instruments in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1839. By 1842, Wright moved to Boston, Massachusetts and made musical instruments under his own name or in partnership until 1869.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: ca 1863
• Object Name: flugelhorn
• Physical Description: nickel silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 32.9 cm x 11.7 cm; 12 15/16 in x 4 19/32 in
• Measurements: overall: 4 9/16 in x 7 in x 13 1/8 in; 11.58875 cm x 17.78 cm x 33.3375 cm
• place made: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
• ID Number: MI.066624
• catalog number: 66624
• accession number: 232422
• Credit Line: Gift of Frances Gordon
• 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.