"Walzen" Horns


.
(click on photos for larger view)


The compensating double horn by Carl Lehman & Co. shown above is a fine example of a "walzen" horn. The term "walzen" (German for roller,  barrel, or drum) describes the large rotary change valve in the center of the horn. The horn dates from about 1925 and the label (below) states that patents are pending in Germany and foreign countries. 1

31
St.L.
Carl Lehmann & Co.
 Hamburg
 Patent Doppelhorn
DRP
 Auslandpatente ang




Otto Tiedt, DRP 222527,  1909

Lehman and Chemnitzer, DRP 440308, 1925
On April 29, 1909 Otto Tiedt received Deutsches Reich Patent 222527 for Doppelblechblasinstrument, entstanden durch Vereinigung zweier Instrumente verschiedener Stimmung in einem Instrument (Double brass wind instrument, created by combining two instruments of different keys into one instrument, diagram above left). 2 This a full double horn with three single valves and one eight-story ("Walzen") change valve, operated by the thumb. The single valves are connected to the change valve through six parallel tubes. The two ports for each slide are arranged side-by-side along the length of the change valve which switches between the F and B♭ slides. The two other "stories" are for the F extension. The rotor of the change valve turns 120 degrees between the two sets of full-length F and B♭ slides. The advantage of this design over a full double horn is the lighter touch of single-story main valves instead of the two-story valves of the typical double. The disadvantages are that the second valve slide of the B♭ side is too short to be pulled for tuning, and the leverage and weight of the massive change valve rotor. Nevertheless, this valve was used on horns, trumpets, and tubas as shown in the C.A. Wunderlich Catalog, ca. 1935 (see below, left).

Unidentified player in unidentified chamber orchestra with a Tiedt model horn probably by C.A. Wunderlich (see catalog illustration below, left).
Sixteen years after Tiedt's patent, Carl Lehmann and Erdmann Chemnitzer received the patent for the change valve on the horn shown at the top of this page.  As on the Tiedt horn the main valves are single (one-story) rotors. Unlike Tiedt's patent, however, this valve is for a "compensating" double horn. The ports are arranged on opposite sides of the instead of side-by-side, so it is only a four-story valve, half the length of the Tiedt valve (see diagram above right). In this design the B♭ slides are located between the main valves and the change valve, with additional "compensating" slides for the F horn on the opposite side of the change valve. The change valve adds proportional supplemental tubing to the B♭ slides. One advantage of a compensating horn is its lighter weight since tubing is shared between the  F and B♭ slides. In comparison to the Tiedt change valve the rotor is also much lighter and only has to rotate ninety degrees. In addition to Carl Lehman & Co. horns of this design were also produced by the firms August Knopf3Joesf Lidl, and other makers.


Zeitschrft für Instrumentenbau, February 2, 1930

On November 21, 1929 Kurt August Knopf received Gebrauchsmusterschutz (D.R.G.M.) 1099255 for a compensating double horn having a the usual three single valves, plus a fourth single valve coupled to a three-story walzen change valve (see the notice above and catalog illustration below right). The fourth valve replaces the fourth story of the Lehmann/Chemnitzer valve that switches the F-extension. According to Heyde this was a rather well-known Knopf model until 1945 but, since the switching was a little hard, it gradually fell into disuse after World War II. In the ultimate modification of the Lehmann/Chemnitzer model, August Dummuscheidt in Frankfurt (Main) received a patent (DRP 518837, May 11, 1930) for a compensating horn in which the walzen valve is replaced entirely with four single valves connected in tandem. In another variation, the Gebroeders De Prins in Anvers, Belgium patented and built the "Radio Wonder Hoorn" in which the three piston valves operated by a series of levers replace the single rotary valves. It is a compensating horn with the Lehmann/Chemninzer change valve.

Chistopher Cornford has developed with Peter Steidle a compensating triple horn, which is marketed under the name: Mod. 3 S, incorporating a four-story Lehmann/Chemnitzer valve.

Herbert Fritz Knopf assembling a Model III


Doppelhorn, Model III, in F-B oder B-F ineinander kombiniert gebaut, mit einfacher Maschine und langen Umschaltventil. Compare the above catalog illustration with the one shown below.  

 
Wunderlich based on Tiedt patent

Knopf Catalog, ca. 1934


Josef Suttner (1935)

Helen Enser (ca.. 1935)
Three variations on the Lehmann Walzen horn are shown here. The horn that Josef Suttner (above left) is holding a Walzen horn probably made by August Knopf. Helen Enser (above right) is holding a slightly different version probably by another maker, and her teacher and good friend of Suttner, Josef Franzl (right), is holding yet a third slightly different version, although the over-the-top valve lever linkage appears to be the same as that shown in the Knopf catalog illustration show above. 

Below left, album cover of Josef Hobik, former principal horn in the Czech Philharmonic, Prague Radio Symphony, and Prague National Theatre Opera Company.  Below right, the dust cover of Robin Gregory's excellent book shows a Walzen horn. It is not identified in the text but appears to be the "Acustic" model by Josef Lidl.

  







 
Acknowledgments


 
Notes
1.Carl Lehman was a brass instrument maker who flourished in Hamburg from ca. 1925 to ca. 1944. Deutsches Reich Patent 440308 for a Schaltventil für Blechblasinstrumente (Switching Valve for Brass Instruments) was issued jointly to Lehmann and Erdmann Chemnintzer on November 24, 1924 with subsequent foreign patents for the same valve design in Austria (107404, October 10, 1926), Great Britain (263460, December 30, 1926), France (622,226, February 21, 1927), and the United States (1,642,783,  September 20, 1927).
(back)

2.  In addition to this horn valve patent Otto Tiedt of Hagen, Westphalia was awarded four other patents: On March 6, 1919 he received Deutsches Reich Patent 315507 for a Ventilmechanik für Blasinstrument (valve mechanism for brass instruments).  Through a series of interconnected levers the functions of two rotary valves are combined into one single valve having two slides.  When the valve palette is be pressed downward in the usual manner one valve slide is engaged. The palette may also be pushed horizontally to engage both slides simultaneously. So, for example, if the slides are both the length of the usual second valve (half tone) then it functions as a second valve when pressed downward but as a first valve (whole tone) when pushed horizontally. Herr Tiedt saw a need for such a mechanism for musicians who had lost a finger during World War I (perhaps himself?).    The next year on July 4, 1920 Herr Tiedt was awarded  DRP 335100 for Verdecktes Orchester für Theater (Concealed Orchestra for the  Theater). His idea was to build the orchestra pit under the floor of the audience instead of in front of the stage. The conductor would face away from the stage, with a mirror to see the singers.  DRP 528853,  dated April 11, 1930, is for a six-valve horn, having the same compass as the modern triple horn in F, B♭ and f-alto.  Using only single valves,  it employed five keys aarranged so that they could be pressed in all combinations using four fingers plus one single thumb valve. Herr Tiedt's last patent,  DRP 1603202  (November 26, 1948),  was for an improved fastener for trouser suspenders,
(back)

3.  See Brüchle and Janetzky (1976) plate 245 for a photo of an August Knopf compensating double horn in B♭ and F with the original Lehmann and Chemnitzer four-story walzen valve (ca. 1937) owned by Helmut Englert, Thanning, and plates 247 -251 for photos of Herbert Fritz Knopf showing steps in the process of making this model, ca. 1950. 
(back)



 
References
Brüchle, Berhard, and Kurt Janetzky. Kultergeschichte des Horns, Ein Bildbuch / A Pictorial History of the Horn. Tutzing: Hans Schneider, 1976 ISBN 3795201799

Gregory, Robin. The Horn, A Comprehensive Guide to the Modern Instrument & Its Music. New York / Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1969.

Heyde, Herbert. Das Ventilblasinstrument, Seine Entwicklun im deutschsprachigen Raum von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1987. ISBN 3765102253

Waterhouse, William, The New Langwill Index of Wind Instrument Makers and Inventors, pub.Tony Bingham, London 1993


Home
 Send eMail to Dick Martz
Contents of this site and all original photographs copyright 1999-2011, Richard J.Martz
All rights reserved.