Unusual Phonograph horn
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Gramtastic
- Victor III
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Unusual Phonograph horn
Hi, anyone know anything about this horn ? It is like a hunting horn but not as long unless some of it is missing. If it isn't I can't see what it would fit .... any ideas ??
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Possibly some sort of Tuba... like a Wagner Tuba pictured below... just guessing. Or with an earpiece attached, it could be used as a hearing aid...

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- bb-tuba_with_quartvalve_wagner_tuba_engelbert_schmid.jpg (22.29 KiB) Viewed 2001 times
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- Henry
- Victor V
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- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
It doesn't look to me as though the mystery horn has the right proportions or curvature to be a cut-off Wagner tuba bell. Besides, who in his right mind would do such a thing to such a specialized instrument? As a complete Wagner tuba, it's worth a lot more than a phonograph horn! You can look it up....
The Wagner tuba was developed specifically by the composer (Richard Wagner, 1813-83) to fill in the perceived gap in the tone quality between the French horn and the trombone. It is usually played in the orchestra by French horn players (note the left-hand arrangement of the rotary valve keys, as well as the mouthpiece size) in the Ring cycle of music dramas. Some other composers have used it, IIRC, but nowhere is it commonly found, played, or heard.
The Wagner tuba was developed specifically by the composer (Richard Wagner, 1813-83) to fill in the perceived gap in the tone quality between the French horn and the trombone. It is usually played in the orchestra by French horn players (note the left-hand arrangement of the rotary valve keys, as well as the mouthpiece size) in the Ring cycle of music dramas. Some other composers have used it, IIRC, but nowhere is it commonly found, played, or heard.
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Besides, who in his right mind would do such a thing to such a specialized instrument?
After looking at some of the hatchet jobs on eBay or other online listings, I'm not sure why you are asking that question. Who knows what motivates people to cut off cabinet legs, put electric record players into Victrolas or stuffed goats, or any of the other crazy things that have been mentioned on the forum...
I'm not saying that this horn is actually a Wagner Tuba part, but it reminds me of one and I can't picture it on any phonograph that I have ever seen, but who knows?
After looking at some of the hatchet jobs on eBay or other online listings, I'm not sure why you are asking that question. Who knows what motivates people to cut off cabinet legs, put electric record players into Victrolas or stuffed goats, or any of the other crazy things that have been mentioned on the forum...
I'm not saying that this horn is actually a Wagner Tuba part, but it reminds me of one and I can't picture it on any phonograph that I have ever seen, but who knows?
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- Henry
- Victor V
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- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:01 am
- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Curt, I like your idea that it's hearing aid. Stick that thing in your ear, and you'll never have to worry about hearing loss, ever again.... Problem solved!
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tomb
- Victor IV
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Hey what did you say I probably need new batteries in my hearing horn. Tom BCurt A wrote:Possibly some sort of Tuba... like a Wagner Tuba pictured below... just guessing. Or with an earpiece attached, it could be used as a hearing aid...![]()
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Gramtastic
- Victor III
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Pretty certain it's not from a musical instrument as it has a seam down it and the bell at the end is a separate piece.......
- Henry
- Victor V
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- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
That wouldn't eliminate the possibility. My Conn 88H trombone had the same kind of construction, and the joints, while skillfully done, were visibly obvious. I'm not saying that the mystery horn started life as a musical instrument!Gramtastic wrote:Pretty certain it's not from a musical instrument as it has a seam down it and the bell at the end is a separate piece.......
Gramtastic, what is the diameter (in inches) of the bell across the wide end?
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Gramtastic
- Victor III
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
Hi, I am afraid it's not mine and have only seen the photo so can't give the size.
- howardpgh
- Victor II
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Re: Unusual Phonograph horn
If you use those wall panels for scale (assuming they are 2 ft wide), then that horn might 3 to 4 ft long.
I wish people would put a ruler in their pictures.
I wish people would put a ruler in their pictures.