CONN HORN DATABASE

Instructions for the

CONN HORN DATABASE

by

John Hendrix

(11/01/02)
PURPOSE

This database of Conn 8D and 28D horns was established to gather detailed statistcal data on the Elkhart and Abiline horns for the purpose of providing a comprehensive and reliable reference resource to the horn community. The plan is to have data that is complete, consistent and accurate enough to trace the various design changes of the Conn horns and at what point in the serial number series the design changes were made.

GENERAL

Each horn entered into this database will need to have the indicated minimum data elements in order to be added to the database. The Contact First Name, Last Name, and Email Address are data elements that are required to keep the database participants informed about issues concerning the database to ensure meaningful comparisons among the listed horns. Obviously, the more complete and accurate the information on the database the more useful the database will be so users are encouraged to supply as many of the data elements as possible and to supply them as accurately as possible.

NOTE: The contact information on the database will NOT be released to anyone and will be known only to the database administrator. It will be used ONLY for the purposes of database maintenance and clarification of submitted data. No one will know who owns the horns on the database except the database administrator.

MEASUREMENTS

All measurements should be quoted in thousandths of an inch, i.e., .016, .468, 1.950, etc. Measurements should be made using tools capable of one thousandths of an inch (.000) accuracy. This will normally require a micrometer and small hole gauges. The only tricky measurement is the Cylindrical Tubing Thickness which will require a double ball micrometer, dial caliper or other device capable of measuring curved surfaces. Should these measuring tools not be available, measurements can be taken in just a few minutes at the local repair shop by a skilled repair person. All other information can be obtained using a minimum of tools that would normally be on the bench of any horn player who has the ability to remove rotors for cleaning…such as ball peen hammer, crow bar, 3# sledge hammer, skill saw and BBQ tongs...just checking to see if you are actually reading the instructions. ;-)) All measurements and other data can be obtained with little more than removing tuning slides and rotors. There is no need to unsolder or otherwise remove any permanent part of the horn.

It should be noted that ferrules (short lengths of tubing) are used to strengthen each joint where tubing comes together. All measurements should be made on the tubing and NOT on the ferrules.

DATABASE MAINTENANCE

Horns will be added to, updated on and deleted from the database by the database administrator using data transmitted to the administrator through email or USPS (snail) mail. The data should be emailed to ????????????? or sent by USPS mail to ?????????????

VIEWING DATA IN THE DATABASE

The database may be viewed by logging on and viewing the data in a regular html web browser screen or "window". Only descriptive data will be shown. Data regarding the individual horn owners will not be shown.

EXTRACTING DATA FROM THE DATABASE

At this time there is no provision for extracting raw data from the database. However, in the future data can be extracted by clicking on a hyperlink for downloading in a comma delimited raw data format that can be imported into any database or spreadsheet of choice. Also, in the future, the data may be available for downloading in an Access Database format.

These capabilities will follow once the database is up, running and populated with horn data. The current emphasis is on getting the database functional, tested, refined and populated.

DATA ELEMENT DESCRIPTIONS

First Name

Last Name

E-Mail These fields contain the first name, last name and email contact information of the person who should be contacted regarding database maintenance issues and questions about data entered into the database. These data will be available ONLY to the database administrator to ensure privacy.

EXAMPLES - Dennis Brain dbrain@hornmail.com

Model - This is the model number of the horn described in this database entry. Currently, the database will accept model numbers 8D and 28D. Capital letters should be used in the description.

EXAMPLES - 8D, 28D

Year - This is the year of manufacture of the listed horn. If the year is not known, click on "Serial Numbers" in the menu box and look up the year on the serial number/year cross reference.

EXAMPLE - 1952

Serial Number - This is the serial number of the horn. Capital letters should be used where appropriate.

EXAMPLES - 123456, M12345

Manufactured in - This is the city and state in which the horn was made. This can usually be determined by the year of manufacture. It is assumed that the "R" series horns were the first horns made in Abline, Texas. Click the button for the location in which the horn is believed to have been made.

Lacquered - This is the best guess as to whether the horn was originally lacquered. This will normally be "Yes", however, there is a possibility that the very earliest horns were not lacquered.

Serial Number Location - The serial number on Conn horns should be located on either the lever bridge or the change rotor casing. Click the appropriate button. If the serial number is located elsewhere, click the "Other" button and indicate the location in the Remarks section.

Change Valve - The linkage will be mechanical, string or mechanical converted to string. Check the appropriate button.

Bell engraving contains the words - This element is the exact wording on the bell. Select the example that reflects the exact wording on the bell of the entered horn. If none of the three examples match, select the "Other" button and enter the exact wording in the box provided.

Cut Bell - This indicates whether the bell flare is fixed or cut, and if cut, was it factory cut or an after market modification.

Horn has the following - Click the button for each of the listed items that were on the horn when it was built.

Bb 1^ST Valve Slide - Some of first horns had sock-foot shaped tuning slides. Select the appropriate button.

2^nd Valve Pull Ring - There are three known shapes of slide pull rings. In cross section they would be described as round, long oval and flat (or rectangle with two grooves on the outside).

Change Rotor is - This is simply an indicator to define the rotor as tapered or un-tapered. It can be used to describe the rotor when the rotor can’t be measured. A rotor can be tested for taper by rolling the rotor across a flat surface to see if it rolls in a straight or curved line.

2nd Rotor is - See "Change Rotor is" above.

Venturi Diameter - This is the inside diameter of the leadpipe venturi which is the narrowest part of the leadpipe. It will probably have to be measured using a small hole gauge and micrometer. This is a tricky measurement and should be measured by someone who is comfortable with the proper tools. The venturi area of the leadpipe should be thoroughly cleaned before the measurement is taken.

EXAMPLE - .295

Venturi Depth - This is the distance into the receiver that the venturi is located. This is also a difficult measurement to take without a small hole gauge and it should be measured by someone who is comfortable with the tools. Due to the condition of most leadpipes and the difficuly in measuring depth with a hole gauge, the depth will be represented in only one hundredths of an inch.

EXAMPLE - .56

Change Rotor Top Diameter - This is the diameter of the rotor measured at the end of the rotor that is close to the long bearing (next to the stop arm).

EXAMPLE - .693

Change Rotor Bottom Diameter - This is the diameter of the rotor measured at the end of the rotor next to the short bearing (next to the removeable back bearing).

EXAMPLE - .725

2^nd Rotor Top Diameter - See "Change Rotor Top Diameter". This measurement is taken in the same way as the change rotor. Only one rotor needs to be measured as it is assumed that all three main rotors are close to equal and the point of the measurement is to simply determine if the rotors are tapered.

EXAMPLE - .822

2^nd Rotor Bottom Diameter - See "Change Rotor Bottom Diameter". This measurement is taken the same way as the change rotor. Only one rotor needs to be measured as it is assumed that all three main rotors are close to equal and the point of the measurement is to simply determine if the rotors are tapered.

EXAMPLE - .865

Cylindrical Tube ID - This field contains the measurement of the inside diameter (ID) of the cylindrical tubing as measured at the F side 2^nd valve tuning slide tubes. It should be measured at the opening of the slide tube and not the female receiver of the slide tube that is attached to the rotor casing.

EXAMPLE - .468

Cylindrical Tube Thickness - This is the thickness of the cylindrical tubing as measured at the F side 2^nd valve tuning slide male slide tubes. If the slides are well worn, several slides should be measured until a consistent measurement is observed.

EXAMPLE - .016

Branch OD at Change Rotor - This measurement should not be taken on the knuckle attached to the change rotor casing. It should be taken on the branch tubing 1" from the ferrule that attaches the knuckle to the branch.

EXAMPLE - .504

Branch OD at Bell Tail Ferrule - This measurement is taken on the branch side of the branch/tail ferrule about 1" from the ferrule and expressed in thousandths of an inch.

EXAMPLE - .641

Bell Tail OD at Branch - This measurement is taken on the tail side of the branch/tail ferrule about 1" from the ferrule and expressed in thousandths of an inch.

EXAMPLE - .665

Bell Flare Outside Diameter - This is the diameter of the bell flare at the rim. It is expressed as full and hundredths of inches.

EXAMPLE - 12.25

Bell Flare Seam Circumference - This is a measurement of the circumference of the bell tail as measured at the tail/flare seam. It is best measured using a flexible wire or other thin material that will not stretch.

EXAMPLE - 6.005

Horn Weight - This is the weight of the horn expressed in pounds and ounces. The horn should be weighted without the mouthpiece, leather hand guard, pencil clips, slide stops and any other item that was not part of the original horn and that can be easily removed.

EXAMPLE - 6/10 (= 6 pounds, 10 ounces)

Bell Flare Thickness at Edge - This field contains the thickness of the bell flare metal as measured at about one inch from the rim. It is expressed in thousandths of an inch.

EXAMPLE - .016

Comments - This field gives the user an opportunity to add any other information regarding the history, provenance, case,

Modifications - This field contains a list of modifications to the horn such as leadpipe, cut bell, duck foot, removed parts (like lyre holder, braces, hand guard, finger hook, etc.)