Hawkes & Son "Excelsior Class" (<1900)

Manufactured between 1895 and 1900 by the esteemed London firm Hawkes & Son, this B♭ cornet represents the next evolutionary step in the maker's history, built just as the company expanded its manufacturing operations at the close of the Victorian era.

When this instrument first arrived at my home, it was coated in historical dust and dirt, but the underlying brass structure appeared to be in remarkably solid, well-preserved shape.
A deeper mechanical inspection revealed two major structural issues. A severe crack had formed along the back of the leadpipe—completely hidden from view during ordinary display—and a critical solder joint on the main tuning slide had broken loose.
Following a thorough cleaning to remove decades of grime, targeted conservation work was carried out. The hidden leadpipe fracture was carefully sealed with specialized high-density (in other words: plumber's) tape to restore airtightness, and the broken tuning slide brace was meticulously re-soldered. Thanks to these interventions, this beautiful piece of British history is once again somewhat playable and presents a striking, clean appearance.