Boston, Massachusetts
Wright, Esbach & Hartman 

Brass
ca 1864-1866
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Tubas / Sousaphones / Helicons

Engraved on bell:  Wright Esbach & Hartman / Boston

This Wright, Esbach, & Hartman bass saxhorn has top action rotary valves (TARV).  These early string action rotary valve upright Bass Saxhorns were then replaced by piston valves. The evolutional process of the saxhorn did not necessarily unfold in a linear fashion. Manufacturers frequently copied their competitor’s inventions and claimed them as their own. Along these lines was Adolphe Sax (1814-1894). In 1845  Sax patented his valve conical bore brass instruments, that were dubbed “saxhorns,” as his own invention, an act that led to much controversy.

According to “The New Langwill Index, ‘E.G. Wright & Co started around 1855, then in 1864-1866 Wright was with Louis Hartman and Henry Esbach as ‘Wright, Esbach & Hartman, which places this upright bass saxhorn 1864-1866.

Resource:  “The New Langwill Index: A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors.” William Waterhouse.  Tony Bingham, London. 1993., pg. 436.