I'm new to your community and hope to find some help with a vintage coronet my family has had for decades. It is a Frank Holton & Co. silver coronet with (what I assume) is a serial number engraved on the central valve,  and it is #1735. I poked around the web a bit and found this serial # as a 1905 production? Also, I'm a bit confused because the bell also has the number 238 engraved right above, "New Proportion… " and below, "EXCHANGED FOR NEW BUESCHER ELKHART, IND".

What is the difference in numbers? Am I correct in my dating of the instrument? What is a reasonable value to insure it for? And, finally, what is the best way to polish the silver plating? I want to make sure to care for it properly, because the coronet is in very nice condition with very few blemishes. I'm hoping most discolorations are able to be polished away. Also, none of the valves or slides are frozen and it is in playable condition. It just needs some valve oil. Oh yeah, 1735 is also stamped inside each bottom valve cap. Thanks so much for any help you can provide! Peace…

Thanks for the info! Am I correct with the serial # and production date? If so, I find it amazing to be holding an instrument 115 years old. Man, if only I could learn about its previous owners!