August Horn of the Month
The August Horn of the Month is a Selmer flugel horn pitched in high Eb. This is an un-lacquered instrument with Périnet piston valves in the standard configuration of whole step, half step, step and a half. The valves are numbered 7/8/9 and the serial number is 1710. The bell inscription contains the “Henri Selmer Paris” logo; then three additional lines show: “Selmer/ MADE IN PARIS/ ®”.
This time I do not know very much about the use of this instrument as a solo or ensemble voice. High Eb flugel horns were made by a number of French manufacturers: Selmer, Courtois, Couesnon and Persy. References in Groves A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol. 4 page 469 suggests they were used in military bands. The Couesnon catalog from 1912 (link below) is a glance into a beautiful and different era. The phrase “petit bugle” appears in assorted French etude books such as the petit bugle in Eb listed in the Tableau d’instruments (page 31) in Merri Franquin Méthode Compléte de Trompette Moderne de Cornet A Pistons et de Bugle. This book is published by ENOCH & Cie, Editeurs. This wonderful book is recommended by Pierre Thibaud and Maurice André; I love playing out of this book when time allows.
This instrument came to my collection from Edward Carroll (New York Trumpet Ensemble, trumpet soloist, teacher Dartmouth College and at the Center for Advanced Musical Studies Chosen Vale: http://edwardcarrollmusic.com/ ).
Sadly this was not as much information as I would like to present; I want and need to know more… the search continues. Contact me if you have information to share: Bruce@chestnutbrass.com – thanks!

Of interest:
Couesnon 1912 catalog see page 31- petit bugle
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5-_7UCbLfDqcElNYkFYR0JnUlU/edit?pli=1

Dissertation- Boston University College of Fine Arts
“Merri Franquin and His Contribution to the Art of Trumpet Playing” by Geoffrey Shamu
http://www.gshamu.com/trumpet/Scholarship_files/ShamuDissertation.pdf