1890 - Lyon & Healy Solo Cornet in Bb and C

This is a Solo Cornet made by Lyon and Healy Chicago in about 1890.  Lyon and Healy was established in 1864 as the midwestern outlet for Distin and ultimately dominated the field of retail and mail order musical merchandising in the USA.

This Cornet is particularly unusual as it is configured to play in Bb and in C by use of a unique tuning crook that blocks off the original leadpipe  and adds a pigtail crook directly into the 3rd Valve. The waterkey is dual and works for both configuration.  The cornet is heavily silver plated and has the decorative embossed ferules and braces common to US made Distin instruments. It looks superb and plays beautifully.