Strange Trumpet.

a few weeks ago, a friend and fellow musician, Bert, who knows I collect brass musical instruments, told me he had been round a car boot or open air market and seen a rather strange brass instrument that only had two valves and not the usual three or sometimes four, was I interested?

He described it as similar to a trumpet, both in shape and size, silver in colour and the price asked was cheap.
I told him that if it was still for sale next time he was there, and so long as the price was less than £50 to get it and I would pay him next time I see him.

Thursday evening he turned up with it and told me he had knocked the price down from £30 to £20 with a bit of haggling and here it is.

It is made by the American company of DEG of Wisconsin according to the label on the case and inscribed on the bell. It is in lovely condition, some minor scratches is all, however one of the two valves needed a spring.
So, after making and fitting a spring, I tried it out to find it is made in the key of G rather than the common key of C or B flat.

So a look round the internet and asking the question on a brass band forum, I learned it is an American marching band instrument known as a soprano bugle, and when played in the higher parts of the musical register, only the two valves are needed, hence why only two. Our American members may know something of these instruments too.

It is also a veteran if not vintage instrument, as they are no longer used as the bands have gone in favour of three valved and slightly larger mellowphone type instruments which are still shaped like a trumpet, just bigger. (I have one of them too)
Here are a couple of photo's of it in the case it also came with.





Give it a shallow cup mouthpiece and the tone is very bright, especially higher up the scale from the bottom low G note, though even that isn't a bad sound.

Nev.

 

Very quirky Nev.
I think you got it for a bargain price

I found this interesting as I used to - in my youth - play a standard bugle.

I bet your neighbours love you to bits

 

That is a common instrument used over here by drum and bugle corps. Even the larger instruments in these corps, such as the french horn, baritone and tuba have 2 valves like the one you posted.

 

Yep, they are designed for marching and "big band" scenarios where octal range is not normally a big factor.

Four key versions would be normally used by heavy Blues and Jazz players where the octal range is critical and, with the extra key, extended.