This is regulation style brass trumpet for mounted troops with a double loop to the tube, which is cylindrical and of relatively uniform diameter for most of its length. Both instruments had a floating garland to the bell. These are distinct from the single twist bugles of copper, also with a floating garland, that were in theory for foot troops, but in fact, like the trumpets, were issued more broadly. We recommend Chris Nelson’s excellent article on these in a 2003 issue of North South Trader.

We see no maker or retailer markings. At some point in its history someone scratched the following inscription into it above the bell: “VALLEY /FORGE / 1775 / BUGLER / JEWEL HARPER / 4^th PROVISVIAL [sic] / RGT.” Needless to say, Valley Forge postdates 1775 by a few years, the bugle postdates both by many more, and the inscriber could use some improvement in spelling as well as history. Fortunately, the inscription is very faint.

The trumpet shows a little darker toward the bottom and we expect it had a cord on it for a long time that kept the midsection from oxidizing as much. It has a number stains, dings and shallow dents, but we only one deep crease, on the bottom of one loop near the upper, mouthpiece, end of the horn.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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