Authentic Bugle?

[M E Wolf]

And, Jari Villenueva responded:

Greetings

It is not a Civil War bugle. It looks to be an Officer's bugle made after the Civil War. These are smaller type, double or triple coiled horns designed to be played by officers usually found in the key of B-Flat or C. They are not to be confused with the M1894 bugles that were issued during WWI for infantry. I've attached a catalog from the turn of the century that has this horn circled

E-Just posting of a picture of a bugle saying this is a standard is unfortunately misleading. The "Standard Issue" bugle E-Just posted is the M1855 BRITISH Duty Bugle. It was never a standard bugle in the US military and is always confused with being a Civil War horn. It wasn't. The posted photo has some sort of crook (looks to be the lead pipe from a Mexican bugle) attached.

It's considered quite farby for CW reenactor buglers to have one of these British Duty Bugles. It's like using a 1902 Springfield at a reenactment. If there was any "standard" Infantry bugle it would have been the large belled singled coiled French Clairon (bugle) imported and also manufactured in the US. Photo attached with me playing one..

Last, but not least, is the link to the Norton's Patent bugle. This seems to pop up now and then. I'm trying to find out about C.H. Norton, the company that is said to have been at this Philadelphia location during the War. My sense is that this looks to be a Prussian type bugle imported into the US with an affixed mark put on it. I always get leery when I see this. Most instruments had the manufacturer engraved into the metal, not placed on top of it. Could it have been used during during the Civil War? Maybe, But I'm not willing to part with 4K to take the chance....

Hope this helps....
My website is www.tapsbugler.com
I always welcome bugle questions but I do charge for opinions on value, which is at the heart of 99% of the questions I get. I am happy to tell folks what they have or help point them in the correct direction for further information
I do tell people "It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it"


Thanks for asking!


Jari Villanueva

 

[M E Wolf]

Pictures from the attached files he was referring to:

 

[M E Wolf]

Courtesy of Jari :

 

[M E Wolf]

This is Jari V. with his Clairon --as you can see from the fuzzy background, he is playing Taps at a cemetery in a Union uniform.

 

[M E Wolf]

This is the Norton's Patent/Improved Field Bugle, Jari V. speaks of.

Again -- a big public thank you for the International and National expert on Bugles, Jari Villanueva at Taps Bugler.

M. E. Wolf

 

[Specster]

I'll like to see of Jari V. can't add to this -- I'll send him the link to this thread. Hopefully, he'll whip it out of his computer brain and tell you exactly what it is..etc.

M. E. Wolf

Thank you in advance for the effort.

Sincerely,

Specter

 

[Specster]

The seller referred me to "Lords Encylopedia of Civil War..." I finds some of that online but not the section on bugles. Does anyone no if u need 2 buy this book or can u see it on line???

 

[Specster]

BTW, I was on a job yesterday at a residence and I saw a ammo box. I asked the owner if he was in the service and he told me he was in Korea at "Chosan Canal" (Sp?). I said wow, that must have been hell. and he went on and told me when the attacks came the chinese would blow tumpet/bugles. I have head the NVA did the same prior to an attack....I guess it was like the Rebel Yell - un nerving. I also told me that he had an aquitance in town (Amherst Mass) who participated in the Dewey Raid, made it to China and got back 2 the states. Pretty impresive stuff.