For about the zillionth time. I'm editing this, too. August 25, 2018.
So, I've been rebuilding the Keilwerth section on Helen's/my pic gallery, as it's one of the most popular sections. When I started doing file uploads, I started seeing some interesting horns float by and that made me want to sit down and do a bit more horn research. It took a long while for me to sort pics and upload new stuff, so I finally have some good info to share:
The real lineup of H-Couf stencil vs. Keilwerth is ...
* H-Couf Superba I =Keilwerth Toneking Exclusive (I've also seen one engraved "Toneking EX" or "Toneking Exklusiv") Toneking Special.
* H-Couf Superba II =Keilwerth Toneking Special Toneking.
* H-Couf Royalist = A whole lot of different things.
I'm not going to go down the Superba I and II rabbit hole, yet. Let's get the Royalist out of the way, first.
Keilwerth made at least two versions of the Royalist. You can tell the difference by looking at the low Eb and C keys. There's this one, which is almost definitely a "The New King" and this one, which is ... something. Here are your choices:
* A "The New King Special," minus the altissimo F# key and rolled tone holes.
* A "The New King," with the updated "H-Couf Superba"-style keywork.
* An Amati-made horn.
Caveats:
* The H-Couf Superba-style keywork was added to all Keilwerth horns at almost exactly sn 68,000 (1971). You can actually check me! Go here. The 67633 horn has old-style keywork. 68374 has new.
* Mostly confirming what Helen's already mentioned in her article, The New King model was dropped around sn 68,000 (1971). Latest horn I have pics of is 61638 from 1969, which is the year Mr. Keilwerth is going for. That 1971 year is waaay too tempting, though.
There were definitely Royalists made by Borgani and others. I've seen them. I doubt Amati made the Royalist because the Royalists I picture at least have Keilwerth serial numbers.
Amati or Armstrong, themselves, may have made the Royalist I and Royalist II because those DON'T have Keilwerth serial numbers. Or maybe Keilwerth gave Armstrong specs on how to make the horns.
What I also find interesting is that there appear to have been "The New King" and "Toneking" horns available at the same time as the Toneking Exclusive, Toneking Special, and The New King Special. Mind you, neither the Toneking nor The New King have an altissimo F# key or rolled tone holes.
Mind you, there was some model overlap: the latest "Angel Wing" The New King I have pics of is 50051 (1965). The first The New King with the standard, boring, sheet-metal keyguards I have pics of is 51915 (1965). The first The New King Special I have pics of is 42380 (1961). That 1961 date bothers me. Either Armstrong started ordering H-Coufs in 1961 or earlier or Keilwerth was just coming out with new models because they wanted to confuse folks. Researchers, at least.
So, I've been rebuilding the Keilwerth section on Helen's/my pic gallery, as it's one of the most popular sections. When I started doing file uploads, I started seeing some interesting horns float by and that made me want to sit down and do a bit more horn research. It took a long while for me to sort pics and upload new stuff, so I finally have some good info to share:
The real lineup of H-Couf stencil vs. Keilwerth is ...
* H-Couf Superba I =
* H-Couf Superba II =
* H-Couf Royalist = A whole lot of different things.
I'm not going to go down the Superba I and II rabbit hole, yet. Let's get the Royalist out of the way, first.
Keilwerth made at least two versions of the Royalist. You can tell the difference by looking at the low Eb and C keys. There's this one, which is almost definitely a "The New King" and this one, which is ... something. Here are your choices:
* A "The New King Special," minus the altissimo F# key and rolled tone holes.
* A "The New King," with the updated "H-Couf Superba"-style keywork.
* An Amati-made horn.
Caveats:
* The H-Couf Superba-style keywork was added to all Keilwerth horns at almost exactly sn 68,000 (1971). You can actually check me! Go here. The 67633 horn has old-style keywork. 68374 has new.
* Mostly confirming what Helen's already mentioned in her article, The New King model was dropped around sn 68,000 (1971). Latest horn I have pics of is 61638 from 1969, which is the year Mr. Keilwerth is going for. That 1971 year is waaay too tempting, though.
There were definitely Royalists made by Borgani and others. I've seen them. I doubt Amati made the Royalist because the Royalists I picture at least have Keilwerth serial numbers.
Amati or Armstrong, themselves, may have made the Royalist I and Royalist II because those DON'T have Keilwerth serial numbers. Or maybe Keilwerth gave Armstrong specs on how to make the horns.
Mind you, there was some model overlap: the latest "Angel Wing" The New King I have pics of is 50051 (1965). The first The New King with the standard, boring, sheet-metal keyguards I have pics of is 51915 (1965). The first The New King Special I have pics of is 42380 (1961). That 1961 date bothers me. Either Armstrong started ordering H-Coufs in 1961 or earlier or Keilwerth was just coming out with new models because they wanted to confuse folks. Researchers, at least.
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