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Lewis Rose Cornet |
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Rose Band Instrument Co. Length = 13.625 " Spending many years researching brass instrument makers allows one to find numerous interesting small business that have appeared briefly on the scene. One of these was the Rose Band Instrument Company. Founded in 1910 in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Lewis and Mamie Rose, they claim to have made both trombones and cornets starting in a small shop, then expanding to add more workers. By 1921, the advertising changed to the Rose Plating Works, and no mention of the instruments is found again. The company ended around WWII. In a local newspaper article from 1914, we learn that they now have five workers and are able to make 15 to 20 instruments per month. That would make about 240 per year at the most. There are a few examples of Rose instruments at the Horn-u-copia.net website, but these are pretty scarce. The example featured here came from a Goodwill shop in Seattle in 2023. The serial number 6310 seems very high but on closer examination, this appears to be made by the Martin Band Instrument Co. The valve casing style, valve caps, numbering fonts, and union stamp all match with other Martin horns from the period. This would put the manufacture at 1911 and fit in well with Rose trying to jump-start his business. It's possible that Rose just purchased the valves and made the rest himself. More Martin examples for comparison are needed to really determine this. Here are some photos as purchased.
All apart and ready for cleaning. Very few dents and the valves seem tight so this was played very little.
Some views after restoration.
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