Horn-u-Copia

A Guide to Dating Couturier-related Instruments



This list is based on an information base of over 300 Couturier and Couturier-related brass instruments starting with the Frank Holton "Couturier Model" New Propotion cornets, the "Couturier Wizard-Model" cornets built by York & Sons around the time of Couturier's "Continuous Conical Bore" patent in 1913, Couturier's own company, E.A. Couturier Co. Ltd., and finally the sale to Lyon and Healy with "Couturier Model" and later instruments after the company went into receivership. Following the list are the facts and assumptions that were used in creating it.

If you note any discrepancies, or have additional information concerning this company, please contact us here at Horn-u-copia.

For more information, go to the Detailed Record of Couturier-related Instruments.. This page lists known and reported Couturier instruments as a service to those researching Couturier. The source of the information is listed, and wherever possible, the serial numbers have also been verified visually.

The record, itself, is broken into three sections:

Additionally, we would be grateful to anyone who owns a Couturier-related horn not listed to also contact us with the name, type, cities, patents and serial number (etc.). It would be nice to build our lists using horns other primarily than just those that are being sold.

Couturier Logo

Frank Holton "Couturier Model" New Proportion Cornets made in Chicago

19096071
19109474
191112402
191215950
191320807
191421100-31621

York & Sons "Couturier Wizard-Model" Cornet

191310000 - 10100
191333200
191437000 - 40999

E.A. Couturier Co. "Continuous Conical Bore" Instruments

19181000
19182276
19194000
19216000
1922 - 19237000 - 13099

Lyon & Healy "Continuous Conical Bore", "Couturier Model" and "Makers" Instruments Made In LaPorte

19229000
192413000-16000
1926-1928200000 - 203000


Notes On Creating The Above




 - Mike Keller

Ernst Albert Couturier was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1863 (NLI).

After rising to fame as a cornet soloist, he became an artist/endorser of Holton's "Couturier Model/New Proportion" Cornet in 1909. Although many were made, these cornets were conventional. His endorsement with Holton ended in 1912.

He then filed a patent, which was granted in 1913, for his "Continuous Conical Bore". The first instruments to use this concept were cornets built by the company of York & Sons. Because of the absence of patent markings on blocks of numbers of these "Couturier Wizard-Model" cornets, it is my assumption that some were made before the 1913 patent was granted while the rest were made after.

Couturier then formed his own company in 1916 (1), which bought out the Seidel Band Instrument Co. in Elkhart, Indiana in 1918 (NLI). After making instruments there for a few months, the firm was relocated to the town of LaPorte, a short distance to the west. There, they continued to make a full line of brass instruments and saxophones until the company went into receivership in October of 1923 (2). Apparently, during this period, they also made stencil instruments for at least Lyon & Healy.

Lyon & Healy bought the factory in 1923 and made "Courtier Continuous Conical Bore" and "Couturier Model" instruments until at least 1926 (3). L&H sold their wholesale division to the Tonk Brothers (NLI, 4), but continued to make instruments in LaPorte (which were marked Chicago) until April 1928 when they sold the plant to Holton (5), who closed the LaPorte site in 1929. (6).

Couturier was awarded patents for:

And design patents for:

Lyon & Healy was awarded a patent for:






6 June 2010




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