Horn Services

Play Condition (P/C): This service includes mouthpipe swab and rinse, cleaning and greasing all slides, oiling and adjusting of valves. Check for foreign objects, pinholes & cracks. Also, check bracing and all solder joints. Replacement of corks and felts as needed, re-stringing of rotors as needed and play-test.

Price: $69.00

Chemical Cleaning (C/C): Chemical cleaning is important because contaminants building-up inside an instrument year-after-year will result in a chemical leaching of zinc from the copper/zinc alloy. This de-zincification will ultimately result in tubing splits and pinholes, especially in the mouthpipe. The cleaning starts with the disassembly of the instrument and the removal of built-up oil and grease. A chemical bath (usually a solution of hydrochloric or acetic acid) along with certain detergents, removes the corrosion, mineral scale and other foreign matter from the inside of the horn. When done correctly, no metal is removed in this process. Chromate baths (which were used through the 1970s) are environmentally damaging and tend to etch metal from the rotor and casing, so they are no longer used. During the chemical cleaning, we take steps to avoid damaging lacquered finishes. Also, any steel parts (springs, lever rods, and sometimes screws) are not immersed in the acid solution because they would react with the acid causing staining to exposed brass or silver parts, as well as oxidation (rust) to the steel components. After the cleaning, the rotors are bathed in oil and reassembled. Strings, felts and corks are replaced, and new springs are installed as needed. Slides are greased, levers and springs are oiled, and the instrument thoroughly checked.

Price: $120.00 (double horn)

(call for pricing on descants and triples)

Rim Wire: When the bell flare gets damaged, the rim wire often separates from the beaded edge, causing loss of resonance and sometimes vibration or rattle. The bead can be re-soldered, or, in less severe cases, secured without damage to the lacquer. Priced upon inspection

Bearing Refit: Job includes removing and cleaning valves, machining top bearing to remove vertical play and swaging bottom bearing to remove horizontal play. This vertical and horizontal play causes the valves to clank or make noise. New corks, string, and springs are installed, and lever hinge tubes are tightened as needed. After this service your valves will be much quieter and smoother.

Price: $60.00 per valve

Nickel Plating Rotary Valves: A popular service for newer horns is nickel plating of the valve rotors. This differs from a valve rebuild in that the rotors are not built up with copper and refit to the casing. Rather, this service simply adds a thin coat of nickel plating to the rotor. Usually no fitting beyond light lapping is necessary. This service includes all of the steps of the "valve service" above and should be considered for instruments to five years of age, depending on wear patterns, etc.

- Valves will be noticeably quicker because of the slippery nickel surface.

- The valve assembly stays much cleaner ... nickel is non-corrosive and foreign material won't adhere to it.

- The life of the rotor and casing system is extended. Chemical and mechanical wear is reduced. Nickel plated rotors require less frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Price: $80.00 per rotor

Complete Rotary Valve Rebuild: Rotary valves endure both chemical wear from mineral salts and mechanical wear from grit and crystallized chemical compounds. After many years rotors gradually become out-of-round or elliptical. The horn gradually begins to leak air (compression loss) and therefore makes the player work harder for the same volume of sound. At this point, there is no choice but to do a complete re-plating and overhaul of the valves. After rebuilding, valves will be like new (or better than factory). The player will get more sound with less energy. Valve Plating and Repair includes the following:

- Disassemble valves and slides and levers. - Cleaning and degreasing of rotors, casings and slides.

- Copper build-up and hand lapping (usually several rounds of this step to achieve exact tolerances).

- Sulfamate Nickel plate and lap. This step imparts hardness and the "slippery factor" for quick valve action.

- Removal of all vertical and horizontal end play.

- Complete cleaning and degreasing of horn body and slides, Careful assembly of valves.

- New corks, strings and springs are installed. Complete test play.

Price: $200.00 per rotor

Strip Lacquer (strip, clean, hand-polish and leave unlacquered) (double horn): $250.00

Lacquer (strip, clean, buff and re-lacquer with epoxy lacquer) (double horn): $495.00

Alexander Hand Crutch (installed): $85.00

Mouthpipe installation: $95.00