The first King Master model cornet entered production in about 1916. The King Master Model Cornet was an instant hit and next to the King Liberty Model Trumpet is the most numerous valve cornet made by King. Most is not all production units were medium bore in the later years. Constantly refined the King Master model underwent many improvements the biggest coming in 1934. The addition of a Sterling Silver bell sets these cornets apart from all others, and has some of the best engraving for a production cornet. The 1963 Master Model Cornet remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.l
Diameter of the Bell: 4.625 Inches
Bore: Medium .475
Weight: 36 Ounces
Top Left: King 1919 Catalog
Middle Left: 1934 King Catalog
Bottom Left: 1963 King Catalog
King Super 20 Model Cornet
Production started in 1955. Featuring brass bell and nickel trim with medium bore. First spring trigger is an option.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.625 Inches
Bore: Medium .458
Weight: 36 Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog
First introduced in 1928-29. The King Commanders last year of production was 1935. Made in Bb with a quick change to A.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5 Inches
Bore: Medium and Large
Weight: 35 Ounces
Top Left: King 1931 Catalog
King Commander Model Cornet
Around 1915-1916 the King Perfecto No 2 Model was introduced. By the early 1922 the Perfecto was replaced by the Master Model.
Diameter of the Bell: Unknown Inches
Bore: Medium?
Weight: Unknown Ounces
Top Left: King 1932 Catalog
King Perfecto No.2 Cornet
King Perfecto No.1 Cornet
Around 1910-1911 the King Perfecto No 1 Model was introduced. By the early 1916 the Perfecto was replaced by the number two version.
Diameter of the Bell: Unknown Inches
Bore: Medium?
Weight: Unknown Ounces
Top Left: King 1932 Catalog
King Junior Bb Model Cornet
Thought to have started production from 1919-1923. The King Junior Bb Cornet was HN White’s recognizing the need for a student level horns. In 1925-26 HN White purchased Cleveland Musical Instruments and moved this cornet to the student line and was no longer engraved with King on the bell. Production was very limited with King engraved on the bell.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5 Inches
Bore: Medium
Weight: 35 Ounces
Top Left: King 1924 Catalog
King Vocal or C Model Cornet
Production of the King Vocal Cornet ended with the start of WWII and never resumed. Sterling Silver Bells were never an option on the Vocal Cornet.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.625 Inches
Bore: Medium
Weight: 38 Ounces
Top Left: King 1924 Catalog
King Eb Model Cornet
Production started in 1899-1905. Shown in the 1911 Christmas Catalog. Designed by H. N. White. Production of the King Eb Cornet ended with the start of WWII and never resumed. One of the rarest King cornets production was very small.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5Inches
Bore: Medium?
Weight: 24 Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog
Bottom Left: King 1924 Catalog
King Military Model Cornet
Shown only in the 1919 catalog this cornet had a short production life and is thought to only have been produced for the military during WWI. May also been known by the Cavalry Model.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5 Inches
Bore: Medium
Weight: 36 Ounces
Top Left: King 1919 Catalog
King Combination Model Cornet
Production started in 1899-1905. Early versions had slides for B, Eb, & A. Shown in the 1911 Christmas Catalog. Designed by H. N. White. Then in 1919 the long model was redesigned and appears until WWII. This information my change with additional catalogs added to the archive. Later models were available with solid Sterling Silver bell. By 1919 this was called the King Vocal Cornet as well.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5Inches
Bore: Medium?
Weight: 38.5 Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog
Bottom Left: 1919
Production started in 1899-1905. Shown in the 1911 Christmas Catalog. Designed by H. N. White. By the 1919 catalog this cornet is no longer in production.
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5Inches
Bore: Large
Weight: 35 Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog
King Large Bore Model Cornet
King Long Model Cornet
Production started in 1899-1905. Shown in the 1911 Christmas Catalog. Designed by H. N. White. By the 1919 catalog this cornet is no longer in production. Then in 1931 the long model redesign reappears until WWII. This information my change with additional catalogs added to the archive. Later models were available with solid Sterling Silver bell
Diameter of the Bell: 4.5Inches
Bore: Medium?
Weight: 35 Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog
Bottom Left: 1931
H. N. White Made Cornets
The earliest cornets are stamped "HN White Sole Agent" and were imported to Cleveland around 1893-1907. From The H. N. White's Company's earliest days (1905-1910), they made the finest cornets on the market and led the way in innovation and quality. Early cornets will have a "lion head" by the serial numbers. Most models were designed by H. N. White, including the Master model cornet which set the industry standard. The Master model cornet is also known as the "under slung" cornet because of it's unusual entry point into the valves. In 1918 the company was incorporated and "Co" was added to the engraving of all instruments, before 1918 the engraving read simply as "H. N. White." The list of H. N. White cornet players is impressive including: Red Allen, Herbert Clark, "Wild" Bill Davison, Dr. Frank Simon, and the great Del Staigers. The H. N. White Company made the following brands: King, American Standard, Cleveland, and Gladiator (which was produced from 1940-1953) cornets. In 1926-1928 H. N. White introduced Sterling Silver bells to his cornets, which produces better tone, being clearer, richer, with a more pleasing quality. Not to mention some of the best looking bells ever produced in the music industry. Even today H. N. White "King" cornets are still played in bands all over the country. The H. N. White Company made all of its own cornets and did not stencil any for other companies (that we know of).
This page is designed to show the first known year of production (based on my catalogs) and any changes that are made over the production cycle of the instruments including model numbers and any unique specifications. In the production years of 1893-1910 it is important to consider that production of trumpets and cornets stated slowly and that the serial number list may not be 100% accurate, and that the company did not have "considerable" production until 1905.
Production started in 1899-1905. Shown in the 1911 Christmas Catalog. Designed by H. N. White. By the 1919 catalog this cornet is no longer in production.
Diameter of the Bell: ? Inches
Bore: Small?
Weight: ? Ounces
Top Left: King 1911 Catalog