Vocal horn, ballad horn in C, yellow brass, plated brass mouthpiece of horn type, plated brass shank and German silver valve touches. Three Samson valves. In circular bell forward form. Tuning slides in valve loops. Mouthpiece probably original. Tuning slide of first valve lacks one inner sleeve. Stamped: Rudall, Rose, Carte & Co. 20 Charing Cross, London. Marked: Prize Medal 1862 Patent, with monogram and number 854.
This easy to play instrument pitched in C married the popularity of ballad repertoire with the growing amateur interest in brass playing and was designed to perform vocal music. 'Ballad horn' was a registered trade name of Boosey. Competing makers of similar instruments had to use alternate terms such as vocal horn (referring to the instrument's repertoire of vocal sheet music) or concert horn (perhaps referring to the popular series of ballad concerts) to describe their instruments.
