Hall & Quinby Cornet in Eb with Box Valves c.1872

My friend and brass collector colleague, Jeff Stockham of Syracuse N.Y. recently found this cornet with a historically significant valve concept. I received his permission to include this example on my website as it represents a short-lived but most unusual approach to valve design.  The design was patented April 9, 1872 by Benjamin F. Quinby as an "Improvement in Military Brass Instruments".  Apparently only a few instruments with  "Box Valves"  were built - since by the 1880s, the more popular Perinet valves were already becoming commonplace on US and European band instruments.  It represents however, a truly innovative concept which exemplifies the continuing experimentation in brass instrument design prevalent in the  1800s.   See The Actual Patent

In 1872, most brass instruments in the US still employed string operated rotary valves or piston operated "Berliner" valves. The "Perinet Valve"  used in modern instruments was invented by François Périnet  in 1838, and first appeared in French Cornets in the 1840s. Perinet valves were ultimately adopted by US instrument manufacturers commencing in the late 1860s, and quickly became the valve of choice in the 1870s and thereafter. 

This H&Q Cornet is in high pitch Eb. It sports a vernier tuning screw on the removable leadpipe extension. Scroll down to see various views of the the Cornet and  the box valve interior details. The cover plate is easily removed to lubricate the valves. The pistons are spring loaded in the upper valve casings. Note the screw on each box valve. It is thought that this may have been used as an adjustment to ensure the valve is pressed firmly against the valve crook holes in the enclosure. The patent text mentions a spring for this purpose. The restoration of this unique instrument is now in the able hands of Robb Stewart.