King "Altonium" (1982)

This is an Altonium in F, manufactured by the H.N. White / King company in 1982. In the brass world, the name 'Altonium' often causes confusion, as people frequently tend to use it as a generic term for any alto horn featuring a forward-facing bell and front-action valves. This common assumption is incorrect, as the Altonium was exclusively developed and produced by King. Finding one of these instruments is quite a rare occurrence, making it highly elusive on the market. It was a complete surprise to see one pop up in my own country, let alone an example in such remarkable condition, complete with its original case. Aside from a single small dent and some light scratches in the lacquer, the horn looks and plays almost as if it were brand new.

One of the most unique and innovative design aspects of the King Altonium was its intended mouthpiece versatility. According to historical sources, it was engineered to be played with either a standard alto horn mouthpiece or a French horn mouthpiece. On this specific 1982 specimen, however, the exact mechanism for this dual-compatibility remains a puzzle. I have not yet discovered a way to fit a regular alto horn mouthpiece, as the receiver uniquely accepts a French horn mouthpiece only. It is highly possible that King abandoned the dual-mouthpiece concept somewhere along the production timeline, eventually manufacturing later models to strictly accommodate French horn mouthpieces.