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YES IT IS THE REAL THING!! I took pics which was very painful with hernaited neck.AND the camera won't let me get in close on 2nd key for enrgaved name and serial #. Or a good bell picture where you try and find his unique way of writing his name. I will try and clane the ebll and see if I can get better pic but not now. Now I must go to bed. The description IS ACCURATE. This beautiful silver mellophone;key B something as I played B flat Coronet years ago and this is not same pitch. So YES IT PLAYS. ( I just woke up my neighbors with "Taps"as that is all I remember after 40+ years..lol) It has 3 original ivory keys that work. With my weak hands I can open the tube on key #2 for cleaning purposes and oiling the key . All 3 keys move with little pressure and return to top.The spit valves work. But I can't get 1 1/2" slide out. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BLACK LEATHER LID. This is the top of the case with inside green felt(?) lining. It weighs 15.9 oz.There are rust spots on the edges as well as in the circle designs. Three rings of various repeating patterns, then an open space before you get to the scalloped oval, 2"wide x 3" long. Inside the oval are the engraved words: FRANK HOLTON & CO. And below that CHICAGO.This is very imporatnt in the history of the Holton Instrument Company. It opened in 1912 in Chicago and MOVED TO ELKHORN,MI in 1918. All instruments made at the new factory say ELKHORN and not Chicago. MY MELLOPHONE MAY BE 100 YRS OLD! Back to the lid and its compartment for acessories.The compartment is held closed with a black leather strap, 5 1/2" long x 1/2"wide and the pin hole is 3 1/2" from the tip of the strap. The strap has a silver buckle 7/8" square, with a 6/8" silver prong. The rest of the case was too moldy to save. MY FRANK HOLTON MELLOPHONE The keys are numbered 1, 2 ,3 as on any brass instrument. On key # 2 tube, below the tubeing to the bell is deeply engraved: FRANK HOLTON CHICAGO 1822 and a lighter engraving of horizontal symbols, making it appear like a # but with 30x magnification one can see it is symbols but not clearly as to what they are. This mellophone was not made for the classroom. The extra attachments show that it was made for an artist. I will list all attachments: THE FIRST MOUTHPIECE is engraved below the lip; FRANK HOLTON,CHICAGO, 1. The mouth opening is 1"x 1". It is 2 1/2" long, with 1 1/4" silver insert. THE SECOND MOUTHPIECE is enrgaved the same as #1 only has # 2. It is 4" of tube before it starts to curve and make a perfect 1 3/4" circle then goes straight.This insert is silver 1 3/4" long. The shape of the tubeing of this mouthpiece made a difference in pitch or tone which is why it is for professional usage. Now I will LIST all the SLIDES used to MAKE THIS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN'S INSTUMENT. THE FIRST SMALL SLIDE is silver, 1 1/2" long by 1" wide. The air whole is 1/2". The copper insert is almost 1/2". I am guessing all the slides used copper for the inserts as the tarnish inside is green.This slide comes off the air tubes of the number 2 key's tube. It has a small silver hard ball to grasp for ease in removing slide. This one needs oil and stronger hands than mine to change slides. THE NEXT STRAIGHT SLIDE is silver, 3 3/4" long and 1 5/8" wide. I have found 2 of these slides. One coming from the 1st key and the next from key #3. The slides are at the bottom of the tubes.The copper insert is 1 1/4" long.I can easily pull out the slide left inside with no tarnish marks and oil as if someone prepared it for play only yesterday. THE LONGER SLIDES MUST BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY IF THE MUSIC CALLS FOR A CHANGE OF TONE IN THE INSTRUMENT.At the top of the slide as the straight tube begins the silver is carved with 1/16" band around the tube. You will find these carvings all over the instrument to add to its beauty. According to history , Frank Holton NEVER MADE AN INSTRUMENT WITHOUT ITS BEAUTY AND THE HIGH QUALITY TONE IN HIS MIND. HE EXPECTED THE SAME OF ALL HIS EMPLOYEES. THE NEXT SLIDE HAS A MUCH LARGER SPAN. It is 3 1/2" long and 3 1/4" wide. It has a reinforcing bar right before the copper insert begins. The insert is 1 5/8" long. On the top is a handle for opening the "spit valve" to clear the instrument of built up spit or water. The felt pads have worn away with age.But the 2 1/4" handle works very well with its springs still very taught as one must use the spit valve when not playing as opening changes the air intake and therefore ruins the tone. AND THE FINAL SLIDE IS ONE THAT CURVES IN AGAINST ITSELF AS THE SMALLER ONE DID. It is 6 1/2" long(having the handle and spit valvle on top,with no felt pad, but taught springs for the handle. The oval piece is 2 7/8"L and 3" wide. The copper inserts are 1 1/2" stright tube.This piece has 1/4" raised silver with 2 thin bans and one large one in the middle. This is another EXAMPLE OF HOLTON'S APPRECIATION FOR BEAUTY COMBINED WITH MUSIC. Speaking of beauty I HAVE SAVED THE BELL FOR LAST. ITS OPENING IS 10 1/2" IN CIRCUMFERANCE. The inside is silver but has no special adonrments. However, the outside of the bell is gorgeous. Even though the exterior of the bell is badly tarnished I can still see the floral display with a small rectangle in which is carved; MADE BY then comes the hard part. His name is not written in the script of 1910 . HIS NAME IS HIDDEN, written in little boxes, circles, with additions to letters, (for example)the L has lines in the shape of a y coming off the top and zig zag lines at the bottom.The T is the same with a y at the top and zig zag through the middle so you know it is a T. He was a very clever man protecting his trade mark by making a game of finding his name. The Chicago was a bit easier as it is in a arched rectangle but still with fancy letters,not just plain straight writing. (The way his name is written is like he knew the inventor of the zig-zag sewing machine.) nNOW I REALLY WANT TO CLEAN THE BELL AND SEE WHAT OTHER LATE 20TH CENTURY DESIGNS HE HAS IN THIS PRE 1918 OBJCT D'ART AND MUSIC. IF I HAD A GOOD CAMERA I WOULD TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS TO SHARE AS THIS IS JUST MIND BOGGLING THE ART WORK HE USED WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PERFECTING THE TONE OF THIS OFTEN UNHEARD OF,BUT VERY IMPORTANT TO SYMPHONIC MUSIC...THE MELLOPHONE You can enjoy the French Horn which is a modern mellophone. Or you can INVEST IN in THE NAME, THE BEAUTY AND IF A MUSCIAN THE TONE OF THIS RARE INSTRUMENT. side note I have been having trouble with ebay for the last 8 hrs. It won't save draft, or save for later or spell check. So I am hoping I can keep going and then revise later to fix all errors. The neighbors are luck I did not BLOW MY SILVER HORN EARLIER THAN 7.
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