Milan, Italy
D. Rancilio

German Silver, mother-of-pearl
ca. 1914
Large bell: 4.5 in; Small bell: 4 in; Overall length with MPC: 14.5 in
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Alto Horns / Flugelhorns / Mellophones

Engraving on bell: D. Rancilio, Primario, Fornitore R. Esercito, Espartazione Mondiale, Rappr. P Codella, Waterburg Conn

From the Italian instrument maker D(ante) Rancilio in Milano comes a double bell flugel/cornet-combination. This double bell instrument is made of German silver, with mother-of-pearl inlaid on the 3 rotary valve finger tabs. The intricate tubing and many elbows are in very good original condition with no dents or repairs. On the other side of the rotary valves is a single piston valve. When you push this valve, the direction of the flow of air changes from one bell to the other, changing the sound from a dark rich sound of the flugel horn to the higher pitched warm sound of the cornet. This D. Rancilio flugel/cornet instrument was distributed through RAPPR. P. Codella, Waterburg, Connecticut.