Featured some kind of horn/bugle

found this interesting horn yesterday (c/s(4)

i thought from a fire engine, lady in shop thought fox hunting

got a cool look whatever it be

what does it sound like........hmmmm, a bit like someone trying to blow very hard but not make a noise, maybe a little raspberry thrown in

 

hunting horn , sounds good ! ... no pun intended !

 

What are the dimensions?

Debora

 

14 inches in length deb, 3 3/4 inch opening

 

perhaps i can get there early...n scare the foxes off before the calavry gets there

.......if only one could make a less comedic sound come out

foxes be like

 

i guess all that colour over the brass (redish) might be a clue

think there was a goldish colour to the thin end at one point as well

 

Ditto.

 

thats what made me think from a fire engine, but the red also could be the fox hunting colour i guess

 

Yes, I think it would be something like that.

 

i hope they gave lessons on use to the crew

FIRE FIRE....... little rasberry

 

I was really thinking ‘hunting’ but the red ish colour makes a good argument for possibly ‘fire’ related. Anyway it’s a nice little horn. Here I see the long ones every now and then but not these shorter ones.

 

copie suggests:

That’s a vintage brass signal horn—likely used for maritime, military, or ceremonial purposes rather than music. Its compact, flared design suggests it was meant to project sound over short distances, possibly to alert, command, or announce presence.

Here’s a breakdown of its likely identity and function:

Possible Identification

• Type: Handheld signal horn or bugle variant
• Material: Brass, aged with patina—suggests early to mid-20th century or earlier
• Use: Non-musical signaling—could be naval (lifeboat or fog signal), military (field alerts), or even hunting or fire brigade

Clues from Design

• No valves or keys: Indicates it wasn’t meant for melodic playing
• Small size and flared bell: Optimized for loud, sharp blasts
• Wear and craftsmanship: Suggests utilitarian use, possibly field-issued

Historical Contexts

• Military: Used to signal troops or coordinate movement
• Maritime: Lifeboat horns or fog signals on smaller vessels
• Ceremonial or Civic: Fire brigade alerts or town criers

If there are any maker’s marks, serial numbers, or inscriptions on the body, those could help pinpoint its origin more precisely. Want to explore its provenance or test its sound profile?

 

Post horn? Or, and perhaps more likely, a coach horn?

 

maybe...but the size seems to suggest a mounted hunting horn !

 

Quite possible Komo, but they do seem to come in a variety of lengths........ Somew of them so long that they are actually in two halves, just a thought.





https://www.easyliveauction.com/cat.../general-household-and-antiques-sale-lot-298/

Guess we will never know for sure.....

 

the most important thing about it is the sound of course.....

so thinking maybe some old novelty joke item ?.....because.....

......,,(BIG BREATH IN).......(little raspberry) ((sounded)) ?

 

the airway could be fouled... or your lips...aren't Lippy enuf .....

 

I wonder if y'all needed to eat beans first and blow from the other end?

 

There is this thing called emboucher, brass musicians area familiar with the term. If you think about it, bugles have no valves or stops. What creates the sound is the bugler's lips, tongue and breath control.

Linda

 

Embouchure - had to double-check the spelling. My increasingly ratty French reads "emboucher" as wrapping your mouth around something, or putting it into your mouth, or some such. But yep - If you don't do the lip thing correctly, the instrument doesn't sound right.