Henri Selmer "Vuillermoz" (1935)

Manufactured by the prestigious firm Henri Selmer Paris and bearing the low serial number 917, this French horn is a textbook example of the historic "Vuillermoz" model. This rare compensating double horn incorporates the traditional French ascending third valve mechanism, adapted here for this specific model in collaboration with the prominent French horn virtuoso Louis Vuillermoz in the 1930s. This design proved highly influential in the French school of horn playing and was later refined in the 1960s by Lucien Thévet.

Cross-referencing the serial number with historical Selmer factory ledgers places the production of this specific horn precisely in late 1934 or early 1935, right at the dawn of the model's era. This makes it an incredibly early example, capturing the original Vuillermoz concept directly from the famous Place Dancourt workshop in Paris.

When this vintage horn first arrived, it was completely unplayable, suffering from frozen valves, broken solder joints, an air leak, numerous dents, a severely creased bell, and decades of accumulated dirt. After a thorough cleaning and temporarily sealing the leak to restore compression, the instrument is functional enough to play a few notes. While it is far from ready for a musical performance, it stands as a beautifully preserved piece of French brass history.