Hawkes & Son "Excelsior Class" (<1895)

Manufactured by the celebrated London workshop Hawkes & Son, this vintage B♭ cornet is estimated to have been built before 1895. This piece stands as a rugged example of late-Victorian British brass manufacturing, long before the company's historic 1930 merger with Boosey & Co.

This cornet has survived in undeniably rough physical shape. The brass body displays several deep historical dents, and the main flare of the bell is slightly bent out of shape.
The instrument suffers from a leaky water-key and a severely loose main tuning slide, both of which cause vital air pressure to escape from the tubing.
Despite these structural hurdles and air leaks, the underlying construction is so robust that the horn remains somewhat playable today.
In sharp contrast to its battered body, the bell features a beautifully preserved, hand-cut decorative engraving that highlights the premium visual aesthetics offered by the London factory at the turn of the century.