Sackville Street, Dublin, Ireland
Western Europe

Copper and Brass Bell Rim
ca. 1840’s
Length: 16.5 inches
Engraving on bell

Seven-keyed B-flat bugle by Andrew Ellard. Keyed bugles served as important instruments in military and other bands in England and the United Stated up until the 1850s. While used mainly for military ceremonies, these instruments have occasionally been featured in contemporary band literature.

The first key bugle patent (5-keys) was by Joseph Halliday in 1811, which he called the Royal Kent bugle in honor of the Duke of Kent.  The keyed bugle was introduced to the United States through Richard Willis, an arranger, composer, performer, who was appointed bandmaster of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York.