C.F. Schmidt
Horns


The double horn in F and B-flat designed by C.F. Schmidt of Berlin and Weimar was very popular among professional players in the first half of the twentieth century and continues to be used in several major U.S. Orchestras. The player pictured above is believed to be  Frank Corrado of the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra, New York. He is playing a C.F. Schmidt double horn in F and B-flat which was imported to the United States and Canada exclusively by Carl Fischer, Inc. New York, NY. The photo is from a Carl Fischer instrument catalog. C.F. Schmidt introduced his double horn in 1900 with its peculiar piston thumb valve for the change from F to B-flat.1

Among the early proponents of this horn was Willem A. Valkenier, principal horn of the Boston Symphony from 1923 to 1953. Mr. Valkenier was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1887 and studied horn with Adolph Preus. In his biography of Mr. Valkenier, Milan Yancich states:
It was through Preus that he became connected with C.F. Schmidt, the Berlin horn maker. During his Berlin years, Valkenier became professionally and socially with Scmidt. Schmidt could play the horn, but he did not play professionally. He loved the horn. He was a man of who knew his metals. Valkenier said "He was a man of iron will and his first love was the horn." When I asked him whether the piston B-flat valve was his invention he thought that it was, but he was not sure. Once he asked Schmidt to change something in his model and Schmidt refused. He declared "My model is the best." 2
Yancich continues with an anecdote about the great Chicago horn maker, Carl Geyer:
Geyer told me that he believed the Schmidt horn to be the best designed horn ever made. This statement from a master horn maker, surprised me. He felt that the curve of the lead pipe through the B-flat valve was part of the reason for the Schmidt horn's success. He also believed the Schmidt bells to be superior to all other bells. In fact, every horn that Geyer built for me had a Schmidt bell. While we were on the subject of horns Mr. Valkenier told me that for many years he played either a Schmidt or Kruspe double horn; especially when he needed volume.3

Richard ("Dick") Mackey, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's fourth horn player from 1973 to 2005, is another proponent of the Schmidt double horn. Dick studied with Mr. Valkenier at the New England Conservatory and for a several years played in the Los Angeles studios with studio legend, Vincent DeRosa. When the audition for the Boston Symphony came up in 1972, "Vince advised Dick that his Conn 8D would not fit in the BSO section, and offered to sell Dick his mint-condition silver Schmidt. The Schmidt has a smaller sound than the Conn, but a sound that blends with the BSO section. Vince considered the horn 'a treasure that I loved, but it went to the right hands.'"4

The firm of C.F. Schmidt was established in Berlin ca. 1880. In that year it was issued German patent #12814 for "improvements to brass instruments." By 1888 a second workshop was opened in Weimar at Brennerstrasse 2c, and was later appointed Court maker to the Grand Duchy of Weimar. In 1899 this workshop merged with the main workshop in Berlin.5 Two different locations in Berlin are indicated by the engraved labels found on the bells of the horns. The earlier location (based on U.S. importer Carl Fischer's serial numbers) was in the south-western Berlin postal district served by Post Office number 19 (S.W. 19). This is described as the "old city post office I" (alte Stadtpost-Expedition I) located at Sparwaldsbrücke, Krausenstrasse, Beuthstrasse (probably near the intersection of the latter two) in the Kreuzberg section of the city. The second location was in the adjacent Schöneberg section in the western district served by "district post office" (Bestell-Postamt) W. 57 located on Bülowstrasse. Both labels indicate the previous location in Weimar. Clearly the Weimar shop was re-opened later following the First World War since many extant examples are engraved with Weimar as the place of manufacture with no reference to Berlin. (See table, below).



In a letter to Reginald Morley-Pegge dated August 18, 1970, Dr. Dieter Krickeberg of the Musikinstrumentenmuseum at the Staatlicches Institute für Musicforschung, Berlin writes the following chronology of the C.F. Schmidt locations: "Schmidt resided 1880 at Berlin, before 1888 at Badfriedrichroda, since 1888 at Weimar, 1912 at Berlin, 1926 at Weimar." Although Dr. Krickeberg is correct that the shop was located in Weimar again by 1926 the actual move from Berlin took place ten years earlier on April 1, 1916 as witnessed in Schmidt's own hand: 


Translation:6
Respected Mr. Wiegand!
My shop  moved from Berlin W. 57 back to Weimar on April 1, 1916, but I received your esteemed letter, and humbly inform you that I cannot mail you a catalogue.  The double horn you claim to have obtained from me is not listed in my books, in particular since I have never engraved a horn with a number. If you have any requests, please get in touch with my representative Carl Fischer at 46/54 Cooper Square in New York, since I must not send anything to you directly. However, if you have a relative or friend in Germany, they may ship an instrument to you. A double horn costs 4,000 Mark without the case.
WEIMAR, August 9, 1920                 Sincerely yours
                                                                 C. F. Schmidt
This information provided by Dr. Krickeberg and C.F. Schmidt is very helpful in establishing the timeline of the census of known C.F. Schmidt horns listed below.

As an aside, another firm by the name of C.F. Schmidt was located in Heilbronn am Neckar, Germany. The SIBMAS International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions gives the founding date of 1851 for C.F. Schmidt-Verlag. References to the Antiquarisches Verzeichniss ausgegeben von der J. D. Classischen Buchhandlung published by C. F. Schmidt in Heilbronn in 1858 and 1862 are found in Neuer Anzeiger für Bibliographie und Bibliothekwissenschaft by Dr. Julius Petzholdt. Heilbronn city archives indicate that C. F. Schmidt flourished as a music publisher (Musikalien) from 1870 to 1993. Indeed it was a very prolific publisher of sheet music at the same time the Weimer/Berlin brass instrument maker was producing the horns described here. C.F. Schmidt Verlag (Heilbronn) published music for all instruments including horn. Of particular interest to horn players it included editions of the Kopprasch etudes and the Hornschule of Josef Schantl. No relationship between the two firms has been established, however.

The Schmidt wrap was copied by several makers including Rampone-Cazzani, August Knopf, Richard Wunderlich, Carl Geyer, Lorenzo Sansone, Boston Musical Instruments, and the original C.G. Conn 6-D. One perhaps unique example of a model by Gebr. Alexander is also known. It is said that components for these, especially the valve assemblies, were often made by C.F. Schmidt and imported to the U.S. as parts to avoid import duties on completed instruments. More recently the design has been used in horns made by S.W. Lewis, Karl Hill (Kortesmaki), George McCracken, and Yamaha model 863.

For further information see also Carl Friedrich Schmidt (wikipedia Germany) courtesy of Marco Rippert.


Notes 

1) Reginald Morely-Pegge,The French HornSecond Edition, (London: Ernest Benn Limited, New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc. 1973), 51 Mr. Morely-Pegge adds: "This model also had a measure of popularity and was fairly widely used in the United States, but to some hands, including that of the writer, the piston proved awkward to manage."[back]
2) Milan Yancich, "Willem A. Valkenier-A Profile", The Horn Call XIV no. 1, (The International Horn Society, October 1983), 52[back]
3) Ibid.[back]
4) Marilyn Bone Kloss, "Richard Mackey Retires", The Horn Call XXXVI no. 2, (February 2006), 51[back]
5) William Waterhouse, The New Langwill Index, A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), 356-7[back]

6) Very special thanks to Lou Denaro and Doug Thomas for providing the image of this valuable letter, and to Lou's good friend and colleague, Sigrun Kahl, for the translation from the German script.  [back]




A Census of Known Extant C.F. Schmidt Horns.
Additions and corrections are always welcome.
Bell Engraving S/N* Year** Description
<<>> Circa 1880 established at Berlin <<>>
<<>> Before 1888 moved from Berlin to Bad Friedrichroda <<>>
<<>>Circa 1888 workshop established at Weimar <<>>
C F Schmidt Weimar vor dem Berlin.     Label dated to 1888-1896 . Originally purchased in Germany and imported directly to Chicago.  
<<>>Circa 1899 Weimar workshop merged with Berlin<<>>
<<>>Before 1912 moved from Weimar to Berlin <<>>
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl. Sächs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher/Berlin S.W. 19/früher/ Weimar    

Single B-Flat Horn with added extensions used by Reginald Morley-Pegge. Formerly in the Louis Denaro collection.

C.F. Schmidt
Grosshersogl.
Sächs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher
BERLIN, S.W.19.
früher
WEIMAR
Carl Fischer
New-York Sole Agent Amerika
u. Canada.


Single F with original F, E, Eb and D tuning slide crooks.  Kölner design with long leadpipe into the valves, then the tuning slide.  No serial number. Jonathan Ring Collection

C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl. Sächs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher/Berlin S.W. 19/früher/ Weimar/Carl Fischer/New-York. Sole Agent Amerika/u. Canada   ca. 1911? Very unusual to have Fischer label with no S/N. Found in a band room in northern Minnesota; Restored in 1979 by Marvin McCoy who estimated date to be ca. 1911.
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl/Sachs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher/Berlin, S.W. 19./früher/Weimar/12328/Carl Fischer/New York Sole Agent Amerika/u. Canada 12328
Full Double, lowest Fischer S/N found to date. Owned by Richard DeRosear.  A very unusual feature of the horn is that the tubing from the main tuning slide is wrapped across the body of the piston thumb valve such that the connections in and out of the valve are reversed.  This same tubing wrap is found on another horn (32995, below) owned by Robert Ward.
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl/Sachs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher/Berlin, S.W. 19./früher/Weimar/12557/Carl Fischer/New York Sole Agent Amerika/u. Canada 12557   Single F/E-flat horn,
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl/Sachs: Hof-Instrumentenmacher/Berlin, S.W. 19./früher/Weimar/15719/Carl Fischer/New York Sole Agent Amerika/u. Canada 15719   Single F/E-flat horn listed on eBay 8/25/08, located in Marquette, MI
Grossherzdpl Sachs Hof-Instrumententermacher - Berlin S.W19 Weimar 16128 - Carl Fischer Sole Agent Amerika U. Canada 16128   Single B-flat horn
C. F. Schmidt Grossherzogel Sachs Hof Instrumentenmacher S. W. 19 Früher WEIMAR.       Engraved with the player's name engraved "Hermann Hand"
Horn-u-copia 
C.F.Schmidt, Berlin, S.W.19 Weimar    ca. 1906-1910?  Listed on eBay several times using hijacked accounts. Date estimated by seller. 
[Top of label covered by bell ring]
Grossherzogel /Sachs Hof Instrumentenmacher/Berlin S. W. 19 /Früher /WEIMAR./
32995
32995
Double horn in F  and B-flat. The label does not include mention of  Carl Fischer and the number stamped places it at the at the end of the serial numbers found for the Berlin W. 57 period.  The horn was purchased in 2022 by Robert Ward of the San Francisco Symphony. Previous owners include Virginia Benz Anderer  and Al Richmond. A very unusual feature of the horn is that the tubing from the main tuning slide is wrapped across the body of the piston thumb valve such that the connections in and out of the valve are reversed.
<<>> Moved from Berlin S.W. 19 to Berlin W. 57 <<>>
C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl. / Sachs. Hof-Instrumentenmacher/ BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR / 18916/ Carl Fischer / New York Sole Agent Amerika / u. Canada 18916
Double horn in F and B-flat owned by Joe Dickson, purchased from Jack Russell and believed to have been owned previously by William Sabatini of the San Francisco Symphony.
C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl. / Sachs. Hof-Instrumentenmacher/ BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR / 19595 / Carl Fischer / New York Sole Agent Amerika / u. Canada 19595
Double horn in F and B-flat, owned by Jonathan Ring, San Francisco Symphony, The Bay Brass, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  The engraving "Hof-Instrumentenmacher" is a carry-over from the previous S.W. 19 address which was subsequently changed to "Hof-Instrumenterfbkt."
C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl. / Sachs: Hof-Instrumenterfbkt. / BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR / Carl Fisher / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada / 21393 21393
Stephen Laifer, 4th Horn, Rochester Philharmonic, previously owned by Steve Lawlis, Syracuse Symphony, and Rick Manaul, Boston freelancer.  Steve Lewis leadpipe

C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl / Sachs: Hof-Instrumenterfbkt. / BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR / 21642 / Carl Fisher / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada 21642 pre. W.W.I Collection of Louis Denaro
C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl / Sachs: Hof-Instrumenterfbkt. / BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR // Carl Fisher / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada/21789 21789
Single F horn in the collection of Jonathan Ring
C F Schmidt / Grossherzogl / Sachs: Hof-Instrumenterfbkt. / BERLIN W. 57 / früher / WEIMAR / 13588 / Carl Fisher / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada 13588   Single F horn listed on All Brass Instruments. This is very curious: The relatively low Carl Fischer serial number is apparently out of sequence given the wording of the label and address in Berlin W. 57
CF Schmidt/Grossherzogl. / Schs. Hof-Instrumentenfbkt. / BERLIN W.57 / früher / WEIMAR / Carl Fischer / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada. / 22410  22410  pre W.W. I  Date estimated by owner. Private collection in U.K. 
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl./
Sächs. Hof Instrumentenfbkt./ BERLIN W57
Früher/WEIMAR./29366/Carl Fischer
New York/Sole Agent of America a. Canada.
29366
Single F in the Jonathan Ring collection, formerly owned by Gus Sebring, Boston. Estimated date ca. 1916
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl. / Sächs. Hof-Instrumentenfbkt. / BERLIN W.57 / früher / WEIMAR/29589/Carl Fischer / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada. 29589
Purchased in England in 1967 by present owner and said to have once belonged to Farquharson Cousins.  A Lawson lead pipe was installed in the late 1970s to replace the corroded original.  Owner states: "It has an awesome lower register, and unbelievable top C on the F side!  Horn chords are especially rich in overtones. The only note that needs careful nurturing is the top Bb - best produced with the first and third valves on the Bb side which is awkward in fast passages, but fine in other contexts."
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl. / Sächs. Hof-Instrumentenfbkt. / BERLIN W.57 / früher / WEIMAR/29593/Carl Fischer / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada. 29593

Rescued in Alliance, Ohio in 1992, unplayable as found, restored in 2016, now has "a rich lower register and plays well throughout the range."
C.F. Schmidt/Grossherzogl. / Sächs. Hof-Instrumentenfbkt. / BERLIN W.57 / früher / WEIMAR/29596/Carl Fischer / New York / Sole Agent of Amerika a. Canada. 29596    Listed on eBay 10/18/09; Bell and valves only, missing all tuning slides.
C.F. Schmidt/ W-57 Berlin/Frueher Weimar, 29640/ Carl Fischer/New York/Sole Agent for America & Canada 29640    Label dated to 1919. Bell cut and ring covering additional engraving. For sale in U.S. 
<<>> April 1, 1916 moved from Berlin to Weimar <<>>
C. F. Schmidt / Weimar früher Berlin

Single B-flat with stopping valve. Collection of Robert Ward, San Francisco Symphony.
C.F. Schmidt/WEIMAR/früher/BERLIN

F and B-flat double with mechanical valve linkages, Robert Ward collection:
"Plays very nicely, with a slightly unusual focus and clarity that I find vary appealing."
Previously owned by John (Giovanni) Rossi (1927-2006), former member of The National Symphony, Washington. In 1952, he moved to New York and began a long career in opera, symphony and recording, performing under Leopold Stokowski, Sir Thomas Beecham, Max Rudolf, Erich Leinsdorf, Karl Bohm and many others. He played many musical shows and on broadcasts, including the Bell Telephone Hour and U.S. Steel broadcasts. For 30 years, he played first horn on summer concerts with the Goldman band.
C.F. Schmidt/WEIMAR/früher/BERLIN     F and f descant double, with a very unusual lever linkage to the piston change valve.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/früher/BERLIN      Stamped on the bell with "4523"; mercury dimes soldered to valve levers; standing in B-flat; detachable bell is silver plated inside; numerous patches; some tubing has been replaced. Said to have been played in N.Y. Philharmonic for twenty years; possibly owned by Robert Schulze and pictured in 1938 New York Philharmonic horn section. Possibly brought to the U.S. by Mr. Shulze when he came to the U.S. in 1911 at the age of fourteen. 
C.F. Schmidt/WEIMAR/früher/BERLIN   1922 nickel-silver, with original F and Bb pistons and optional A/E tuning slide with tap; provenance confirmed to original purchase in Germany. Collection of Louis Denaro
C F Schmidt/& Co./WEIMAR/früher/BERLIN     Collection of Louis Denaro
C F Schmidt/& Co./WEIMAR/     Purchased by Warren Dowdy in the mid 1990s from a band director in Brownsville, Texas, now owned by his widow, Mrs. Hazel Dowdy.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada  31197  ca. 1923  Silvered detachable bell. Replacement leadpipe, main tuning slide, evidence of other work. Private Collection in U.S. 
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada  31384    Purchased used about 1961 from a player in a San Diego professional marching and concert band who was retiring.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada
31429

Previously owned by Charles Kavalovski, now since 1978 by Robert Ward, San Francisco Symphony
C. F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada/32110 32110
Purchased by Mike Robinson in December 2017 from Kevin Bowen a horn repairman in the Atlanta area.  According to Mike,  "The horn is in excellent condition for a 90 year old instrument!  The horn is completely intact except that the leadpipe has been replaced with a Dan Rauch Schmidt leadpipe. The valves have been redone by Chuck Ward and the previous owner Kevin made sure everything was in perfect working order. Kevin also added the articulated linkages on all three valves... and wow do those valves fly! The horn plays like a charm! a great sound and a joy to play!"
C. F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada/32112 32112    Currently (2011) in Cleveland, OH; Purchased ca. 2001 from a public school teacher who purchased it in New York in the 1950s. Generally good playing condition, great sound, solid high register.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Germany/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/32652  32652    This horn was originally owned by Jerry (Jaroslav) Knopp, formerly with the Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Civic Opera, and a member of the All American Youth Orchestra that Leopold Stokowski took to South America in 1940. It was sold in 1960 to the present owner, Mr. Bruce Kovacs  
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar Germany/ Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent for U.S.A. and Canada.

Dale Clevenger purchased his C.F. Schmidt double horn in 1959 from  Imogene Sloan and used it in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra until 1975 when he replaced it with one made by Steve Lewis. Mr. Clevenger states "My two CF Schmidts are: one a double made in about 1912 in Weimar and a single Bb made in Berlin about 1921. Neither label has a serial number, but I know the workmanship of the old man Schmidt (Geyer taught me) and I know when he died, in 1921. So, I have a pretty good idea of the dates of these horns even without the serial numbers." Subsequent research on the dating of C.F. Schmidt instruments suggests a later date for this horn.
C.F. Schmidt/Germany Weimar Germany/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/32665 32665 ca. 1929 This is one of those lucky finds that players and collectors only dream about. It was found in an antique shop in Maine on June 16, 2012, and purchased for $175. The horn is in excellent condition, plays very well, and came complete with original case, F and E-flat tuning slides, and E/A crook with quick change tap. The label is unusually engraved with "Germany" written twice.
C F Schmidt/& Co./WEIMAR/fruner [sic] /BERLIN 32958
The label on this horn is very ornately embellished with scroll-work, not seen on other C.F. Schmidt horns. In addition the serial number is unusually high for the wording of the label and there is no reference to Carl Fischer as agent as on all other horns with serial numbers. The word "früher" is misspelled. The most troubling engraving on the horn, however, is the notation "Spezial Fur  Prof. F. Gumbert." This is rather amateurishly written in cursive penmanship. The word "für" is incorrectly capitalized and is misspelled, missing the umlaut. Friedrich Adolph Gumpert (1841 - 1906) was a famous solo horn in the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, and teacher of many fine horn players and was still living, although retired, when the C.F Schmidt double horn was invented in ca. 1900. Furthermore the label Weimar früher Berlin does not seem to fit the supposed location of the C.F. Schmidt in that period.  The horn was sold on eBay in 2012 and was previously owned by an amateur player who purchased it from Giardinelli in New York in the 1960s. Prior provenance is unknown.
The Tariff Act of 1930 (P.L. 71-361) was an act, sponsored by United States Senator Reed Smoot and Representative Willis C. Hawley, and signed into law on June 17, 1930 imposing tariffs on goods imported into the United States. Among its provisions is the requirement that imported goods must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English to indicate to the ultimate purchaser the country of origin. So, it seems reasonable to presume that C.F. Schmidt horns marked "Made in Germany" were imported for sale in the U.S. in or after 1930.
C. F. Schmidt & Co. /Weimar/ Made in Germany

Owned by Henry M. Viets, Santa Rosa Symphony; previously owned by David Krehbiel.  The horn now has a Bruce Roberts leadpipe.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada /Made in Germany 33561 ?    Nickel (or probably silver) plated over brass; listed on eBay 7/20/08 for $3800 in Tuscaloosa, AL, but no bids. Estimated by seller to date from ca. 1914
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar  3455? ca. 1927?  For sale in the U.S. Date estimated by seller. 
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/früher/Berlin/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/34840
34840
1924/25
Nephew of original owner states the instrument was purchased new in 1925/1926 which is consistent with label, however "Made in Germany" and serial number suggest post-1930.
C F Schmidt / Weimar Germany / Carl Fisher New York / Sole Agent of USA and Canada / Made in Germany/35611 35611 1930  Collection of Louis Denaro
C. F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/36590/  36590    Single F horn, bell has been transferred to another horn of various maker's components
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany, 36789 36789 ca. 1932? Offered on eBay on 10/6/09, in Pittsburgh, PA. Date estimated by seller. Additional S/N 1371 on piston casing.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer Inc. New York/Sole Agent of USA and Canada/Made in Germany/37022 37022    
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany, 37835  37835     
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany, 37953
37953
Double horn in F and Bb owned by Lyle Adley-Warrick
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany, 37994  37994    Listed on eBay on October, 24 2009 
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany  38290    Purchased in 1969 from John Lounsbery of the Milwaukee Symphony, for $400. Used as primary horn until 2008. Estimated by John Barrows to date from 1920, however S/N would indicate later. Overhauled in 1973 by Jerry Lechniuk (Chicago) and bell silver plated by Anderson Silverplating (Elkhart).
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany
38506
Double horn purchased in 2024 by Jonathan Ring from an estate sale in Los Angeles in excellent original condition complete with the E/A/tuning slide, Bb/F piston and original case.The piston had been replated and the horn plays great with a wonderful, resonant sound reminiscent of that Dale Clevenger tone
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany  38783  ca. 1934  Son of original owner stated that this horn was used by his father in his high school band from 1934 through 1938. Believed to have been purchased new. Private collection in U.S. 
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer Inc. New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/39048/   39048    Owned by James Tankersley of the Houston Symphony during the 1950's-1960's. Listed on eBay April 28, 2011,  now owned by Richard Burdick, 1st Horn of Regina Symphony
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer Inc. New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/39079/   39079    Purchased in 1988 for a student in Costa Rica, and as of January 2011, this horn was still located in Costa Rica.
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer Inc. New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/39593/   39593    Said to have been once owned by Luigi Ricci
C.F. Schmidt, Weimar, Carl Fischer New York, Sole agent of USA and Canada, Made in Germany 39732?  39732?  ca. 1930?  Sold in Japan. Date estimated by seller. 
C.F. Schmidt
Weimar
Carl Fischer - In - New York
Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada
Made in Germany
39746
39746
Single F with original F tuning slide crook.  Engraving faded and a bit hard to read. Mark Almond Collection

(Ring: Serial # could be 39796 but I think it says 39746)

C.F. Schmidt/Weimar     For sale in U.S. 
C.F. Schmidt/Weimar/Carl Fischer Inc. New York/Sole Agent of U.S.A. and Canada/Made in Germany/40246 
40246

Since 1983 owned by Suzanne Chasalow, Santa Rosa Symphony , formerly with the Boston Brass, Bay Area Women's Philharmonic, Western Opera Theatre Freelance with other local groups. Previously had a Lawson leadpipe now has a custom Bruce Roberts pipe.
C.F. Schmidt
Weimar
Carl Fisher inc. New York
Sole Agent of USA and Canada
Made In Germany
40904
40904
Since 2005 owned by Darby Hinshaw, San Diego Symphony, and former owners include Forrest Standley and Gene Standley. The horn stands in F and has a .468" bore in the valve section, with considerable reductions in the tighter bends.  It's been played heavily, and the wear level is high. The valves have been nickel plated by Lawson and are fantastically tight and smooth. The inside of the bell was silver plated at some point, and the inside of the detachable bell has very heavy pitting, but still plenty of metal remains. The original lead pipe is long gone, and it currently has a very fine pipe by Bruce Roberts. It's not in showroom condition, but a good example of a very-high-mileage instrument with many years left in it.
C.F. Schmidt/& Co./WEIMAR/Cont. Music Co. New York/Agent of USA and Canada/Made in Cermany[sic]/41059  41059   In 1925 C.G. Conn created it's wholesale division, Continental Music Corporation in  Chicago.   Ca. 1930, it purchased much of the musical instrument stock of Carl Fischer. Bell exhibits unusually ornate engraving. Several modifications. Offered for sale in St. Louis, 3/31/2010 
C.F. Schmidt
uCo.
Weimar
Continental Music Co. Chikago [sic.]
Agent of U.S.A. and Canada.
Made in Germany.


Owned by Stephen Laifer of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. It is difficult to estimate the date of this horn, however "Made in Germany" suggests that it was imported after 1930 and that Carl Fischer was no longer the "sole" importer. The misspelling of Chicago further suggests that the engraving was done in Germany using the same tool as the rest of the label.
C. F. Schmidt/ & Co. /Weimar/ Made in Germany

Purchased on eBay in 2023 by Jonathan Ring.  The build quality seems somehow rougher than earlier C.F.-built instruments (slide tube lengths not all equal, nickel slide tubing, possible different piston supplier, etc.) which suggests  that this one is quite late and possibly put together using whatever parts were available post WWll  towards the end of horn production.

     
* Serial numbers were added by Carl Fischer. In response to an inquiry about archives a spokesperson for Carl Fischer, Inc. has replied: "Our instrument division closed decades ago and we no longer have records."

**Dates are estimates or guesses usually made by recent owners and should not be taken to be accurate. In some cases where early provenance is known dates given may be more certain. Horns are listed by wording of the C.F. Schmidt label which are believed to be in chronological order.


Now, let's all play
Spot That Schmidt!

1938 New York Philharmonic Horn Section
Identified as (left to right)Robert Schulze, Santiago Richart, Luigi Ricci, Bruno Jaenicke, Adolf Schulze

John Barrows

Eric Hauser

A High School Horn Section
(Hint: who's the smartest looking kid and NO!, Dick Martz is not in this photo.)

College or Military Academy Section
(Hint: It's the only double horn in the photo and he's probably the principal.)





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