Elkhart Indiana
C.G. Conn

Gold and Silver-Plated
ca. 1913
Length: 16.25 in; Bell Diameter: 4.72 in
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Cornets / Cornopeans

Engraved on bell: MADE BY / C.G.Conn / ELKHART, / IND.
Engraved on 2nd valve:  L / 130488 / UNION / MP3P / BBSW / LABEL / PAT. APRIL / 2.1907

A 1913 C.G. Conn “New Invention” Circus Bore Cornet, Serial No. 130488. It was manufactured in Elkhart Indiana. This “New Invention” Circus Bore Cornet has artistic engraving and is finished in silver and polished gold plate on the bell, with mother of pearl valve buttons. This version was introduced shortly after the historic Conn factory fire.

Chicago-area trumpeter/cornetist and previous host of the Chicago Trumpet Hang, Jim Hatfield, provided the following description.  Also acknowledged is the CONN Loyalist – New Invention Circus Bore.

“When Conn was still owned by Col. Conn himself, he modeled cornets that resembled each other very closely, such as the Perfected Wonder, and the New Invention Circus Bore.  For a long time, I thought these were the same model.  However, the cornet expert and collector H.M. Lewis has explained to me how to tell the difference.”

“The Perfected Wonder model was built between approximately 1906 to 1910.  The ‘Wonder’ models, which includes the Wonder, New York Wonder, Wonderphone, Perfected Wonderphone and the Perfected Wonder have in them patent number 343888, which is a patent for valve design.  The easiest way to see this is to look at the short tube that connects the 3^rd valve to the 2^nd valve.  In these models following the patent, this tube is angled up from the 3^rd valve to the 2^nd valve.  I am told by H.M. Lewis that all the Perfected Wonders he has played had “fairly severe intonation problems.”

“In 1911, the Conn factory was destroyed by fire.  It is reasonable to assume that as a result a redesign of certain models took place; after all, they had to restart from scratch anyway.  This is where the ‘New  Invention’ Circus Bore came in.  Visually it was extremely similar to the Perfected Wonder, except that the tube between the 3^rd and 2^nd valve is now horizontal.  In spite of its name, the ‘Circus Bore’ model was available in small, medium and large bore.  That should correspond to bore sizes of 1 ½ (0.458”); 2 (0.468”); and 2 ½ (0.484), respectively.  It is my impression that the large bore version was most common.  The Circus Bore model was made in both high and low pitch and was produced from 1911 to about 1920.”

What Conn said in 1913:
“The claim made for the New (Invention} Circus Bore Cornet is that it was a better and has a more correct scale throughout its entire compass.  It also plays easier and has a bigger and more powerful voice-like quality of tone.  It is better balanced, handles easier and its tone responds more quickly and more readily.  The bell of this Cornet hangs downward to prevent the free use of the performer’s embouchure, and the performer can do more on the Circus Bore Cornet and last longer when doing it than with any other Cornet.”

Reference:  The CONN Loyalist – New Invention Circus Bore,  Jim Hatfield