1887 Boston 3-Star "Ne Plus Ultra"

Expertly restored by Leigh McKinney of
First Class Brass, Dunstable, England.

Instructions: Click on any thumbnail image to get a bigger version

Part ONE: Ebay Seller's Original Photos

I purchased this cornet from a seller on EBay. His pictures did not really
show the condition of the instrument, although his ad described the more
serious damage - in particular, the patch on the leadpipe and the tear
in the bell. Unfortunately, the bell damaged was amplified in shipping.
Also, the non-original finger buttons, which don't look too bad in the
photograph, really drove me crazy!

Part TWO: Bell Damage Detail

After taking these pictures, I had a local repairer straighten out the
bell and soft-solder the tear to prevent further accidental damage.
Despite this serious injury, the cornet still played and sounded
wonderfully, so I decided I would get it restored.

Part THREE: Restoration Begins

In early 2004, I sent the cornet to Leigh McKinney, whose First Class Brass
in Dunstable, England, produces the acclaimed Eclipse line of trumpets, and
also performs miraculous restorations of old and damaged horns. After Leigh
emailed me his first set of pictures, I knew I had done the right thing!

Part FOUR: Restoration Almost Complete

Wow! That is all I could say when Leigh sent me this batch of photos.
Not only had he erased 117 years of use and abuse from this cornet,
but he also found a set of finger buttons that are more correct for the
Boston models of cornets.

Part FIVE: The Finished Cornet

Back from the platers and with the valves fit and installed, this beautiful
cornet gets a new lease on life. Note that the bell damage and patch on the
leadpipe are h-i-s-t-o-r-y, and Leigh's new finger buttons are the icing on
the cake!