Our cornet section auditioned a new (for us) Martin SARV B-flat cornet today. We’re purchasing the instrument from a friend who has a surplus of restored instruments. This will make a fine addition to our band.
We had a round robin try-out for the instrument and discovered that it has a trumpet shank receiver, so most of our cornet mouthpieces don’t work. However, it has very nice compression in all three valves and responds very freely.
The instrument was manufactured in NY, and the maker’s plate gave the address where he produced instruments from 1871-1873 before moving to larger quarters. The horn has no spit valves, showing that it was made in the same pattern as Civil War instruments. 
We look forward to hearing it in ensemble with our other vintage instruments.
1st Nebraska Volunteers Brass Band 