Cornet made by the Salvation Army
This cornet was made in 1961 in the Army's own factory in St Albans. Some of the factory records are preserved in the Salvation Army International Heritage Centre in London. There we can read the name of the workman who made this cornet (Neil), the name of the workman who made its valves (Morley), also that the instrument was made for export.
At this time, brass bands in Britain, including Salvation Army bands, tuned to a high pitch standard, about half a semitone higher than the pitch standard used in continental Europe and now used everywhere. As a result, the factory had to make each model of instrument in two slightly different sizes.
This cornet is stamped 'L.P.', indicating that it was a low pitch instrument made for export rather than for use in the U.K. High pitch was phased out from 1964. The 'Herald' model was introduced in 1961 but was only made by the Salvation Army for a short time: Boosey & Hawkes took over the St Albans factory in 1972. (Arnold Myers, UK)
