Carpets

NLIC

King Custom Left-handed Cornet c.1932

This rare and beautiful cornet was custom made by H.N. White - King for a left handed cornetist about 1932. In terms of provenance, one thinks about Jimmy Burke the famous left handed cornetist who was a student to another renown cornetist Del Staigers. Steigers designed a left handed cornet for Burke which was made by King. It has not been determined whether this cornet was indeed the same horn, or perhaps another made by King at approximately the same time. Scroll down for more on Burke

The second valve is inscribed:

KING
MADE BY
H.N. WHITE
CLEV'D O
14149

The cornet is in silver plate and beautifully engraved on the bell. The entire horn is a mirror image of a right handed cornet of the period - except perhaps the adjustable pinky ring. The inside of the bell has ben given a gold wash. An extra crook is provided for the horn to play in high pitch (A=450). A custom made case was fabricated for this horn.

James Francis Burke was born the youngest of three children to Robert Arthur Burke and Helen Marguerite Gobel on April 15, 1923. At the time of his birth, James Burke weighed 15 pounds 9 ounces. During the birthing procedure, the child suffered a brachial plexis injury resulting in permanent damage to his right arm. The damage was so severe that the arm never fully developed and remained withered and virtually useless his entire life.

At the age of 11 he auditioned for and became a member of "Coast To Coast On A Bus", a radio program broadcast each Sunday morning on WJZ. At the same time he was also performing on WABC's "Horn and Hardart's Childrens Hour". This was Jimmy's ritual until he was eighteen: a solo broadcast on each show every Sunday morning. During his high school years, he participated in just about every regional and national contest and was eventually declared national champion.

In the 1930’s he was sent to Del Staigers for lessons. At that time, Staigers was considered the world's foremost cornet soloist, having performed along side the great Frank Simon in Sousa's band before holding the solo chair with the famed Goldman Band from 1926-1934. He is credited with teaching Jimmy musicianship and the responsibility of solo cornet performance. Staigers was also responsible for having a horn designed by the King company especially for Jimmy and left handed playing. The bell was mounted on the right side of the horn to accomadate the holding problem.