# 155865

1918 Conn New Wonder cornet – this came with a bag marked “old valves”. The feel and operation of the valves is excellent, and this plays beautifully.

Brass historian Niles Eldredge [Eldredge, N. 2002. A Brief History of Piston-valved Cornets. Historic Brass Society Journal 14:337- 390 –
Conn’s New Wonder. Victor New Wonder, or 80A (with variant versions, such as the slimmer, more trumpet-like 8A of the 1930s—…) was unusual primarily because of
its hump-shaped loop on the lower section of the bell just to the rear of the first valve. With a micrometer wheel, the instrument was intended as a bell-tuner, though there was also a forward-directed slide on the leadpipe that was, at least through the 1920s. equipped with a stop rod for quick-to-A: some of the earlier instruments also were equipped with a linkage system that adjusted valve slides when the change was made between Bb and A. Bell lengths varied somewhat, but 163/,” was common in the 1920s. Never to my knowledge copied by anyone else,”’ this model was sold at least through the 1960s; older ones in good repair are the favorites of many modern players in the traditional jazz idiom.

Showing the tuning mechanism [which it’s quite unusual to find intact] – next photo shows the mechanism from the bottom

[above] 1918 Conn New Wonder Mechanism from underside

Goldwash bell inner

above – Pearly Valve tops

[above] Opera glass tuning wheel.

Conn’s constant innovation [referred to by Niles Eldridge as a pattern of almost constant tinkering, production of these [[Conn’s]] unusual configurations both within single firms—and of course among competing firms—more likely represents foment in stylish exterior design than any real mechanical/acoustical improvements.]

Conn’s 1918 New Wonder cornet – excellent longlasting silver finish, excellent valves, and easy bell tuning, as well as its place in the evolution of other brass [some would regard this as part of the trumpetization of cornets which was occurring by degrees in the late 19thC and the first half of the 20th C amongst American brassmakers].

One of Conn’s successful classics [thanks to innovation?] still in great playing condition – sounding great – over a hundred years after it was built.

Rare, complete, and available