NLIC

By the late 1880s, the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom had some 400 brass bands which urgently needed repair services.  In 1889 a SA repair shop was opened and ultimately started making instruments from parts procured from other makers and called "Our Own Make".  The first complete instruments made by the SA shop were produced in 1891 and from that point, the SA General ordered that all bands purchase their instruments from the SA shop. Click here for a brief history of Salvation Army Band Instument Making  by Will Scarlett- the formost authority on SA instruments in the USA.

The flugel is pitched the same as a cornet, but has a much more mellow sound due to a larger bore and conical bore.  All traditional British brass bands inlude one flugel as a solo instrument

This flugel has the Fortess Rd address and was probably made in 1896.  The silver  was ultimatelyrestored to its former glory after some solder issues and a few dents were addressed. Note the interesting pinky finger loop.

This superb example of the workmanship of the Salvation Army's own  factory is now part of a much larger collection at the new Musical Instrument Museum (The MIM) which opens in  Phoenix in Spring 2010