C. G. Conn Co.
Elkhart Indiana & New York City
New York Wonder Bb Cornet
#60841 c.1898

This is one of the earliest New York Wonder model cornets made about the time that Conn opened their New York store in September of 1897. Previous Wonder cornets were marked with the Elkhart and Worcester, Massachusetts locations, then they opened the New York store and phased out production at Worcester.

Except for a few examples of New York Wonder cornets that have a much lower serial number and may have been older valve bodies used to make the first NY models, the main group start around 60000. By December of 1898, it was reported that a new factory on the floor above the NY store was to open soon to meet local demand for instruments made under the buyers' supervision. It is possible that at least some of these were assembled there. I doubt that any were made from scratch in New York so my guess is that these were assembled from parts made in Elkhart.

Here is the cornet as I purchased it. Very tarnished but relatively undamaged.

All apart and ready for restoration. At this point I have added a period mouthpiece from my collection and some spare parts to make a Bb shank.

All cleaned up and ready for assembly.

The "01/2" is for the small 0.438" bore.