Carpets

This double bell euphonium in Bb was made by the H.N. White Company with the "King" trade name in 1934 (serial #161323). It is the "Artists" Model - with 5 valves and removable small bell. The fourth valve when depressed, provides compensation for accuracy on some notes. The fifth valve selects the smaller bell. The 4th and 5th valves are operated by the left hand. The horn above is in original mint condition - with almost no sign of wear on the distinctive King gold lacquered brass finish - probably due to much TLC and a fitted case. See text below photo for a discussion on duplex instruments. See also my Conn double euph and my dublophone in this gallery.

This horn is no longer in my collection.

"Duplex" instruments were first attempted in England in 1851 with a combination of an althorn and cornet. The idea was to combine two instruments of identical pitch using a common mouthpiece, lead pipe and valve set- but with different or contrasting sounds obtained from different sized bells - which were often oriented in different directions. Combinations such as a flugel horn and cornet; alto horn and E flat trumpet, euphonium and valve trombone and tuba and bass trombone were tried. Besson of UK tried "doublophones" with only a common mouthpiece and leadpipe.

In the USA, the first duplex euphonium / valve trombone instruments were made by Conn in the 1880s. In 1889, Sousa's solo euphoniumist, Michael Raffayalo adopted the instrument. These instruments became popular with soloists for their ability to provide different sounds and echo effects with the same horn. There are newsreel shots of the John Phillip Sousa Band with a rank of his "raincatcher" upward bell sousaphones and a front row including double bell euphoniums! Their popularity waned after WWII but they were made up to the 1960s with the last offer in a King catalog.