Horn, yellow brass throughout except for valve touches. Two Stölzel valves. One master crook and seven couplers. This instrument was originally built as a natural horn. The valve section (soldered in place and not a detachable sauterelle) was added later in the 19th century. Brass mouthpiece with silver rim and eyelet probably original. Some denting in coupler No.7. Stamped: Key 20 Charing Cross London.
Early valves often leaked and played out of tune. Players and composers also prized the distinct tone colour of each crook, and of the notes produced on the natural horn by closing off the bell opening with the hand. For these reasons, valves, crooks and hand technique were used in combination by horn players into the first decades of the 20th century.
