Seth writes:
> It has:
> 157, 158, 159 stamped on the valves and valve caps
Hans writes:
Hello Seth, the numbers have the unique purpose to remind
you which cap to screw on which valve. If there is a
mechanical linkage (like uniball), there is no need for
strings.
The numbers were also used at the factory to keep all the parts
individually fitted for a particular valve all together. The next horn built
would
have had valves numbered 160, 161, 162. Many makers just went up to 99 then
started back at 1 again.
Interestingly, a lot of the German makers in the old days seemed to
number the valves in a way that would seem backwards to Americans, 3,2,1
instead of
1,2,3, or perhaps 86,85,84 instead of the other way round. I just bought a
horn recently (A Wunderlich compensater, should have bought Carlberg's!) that
didn't play in any recognizable key. Sure enough somebody had put the valves
in the wrong holes because they seemed to be numbered backwards. That made #1
and #3 work oppositely from what they should have. They were open when they
should have been closed (ascending valve!). Look at the underside of the
finger platters and the valve number is often on those as well. The levers
can't
usually be put in the wrong spot so that can help figure it out.
- Steve Mumford
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