The echo cornet is a duplex instrument, which means that it embodies the characteristics of two different instruments, and the player can choose freely between them. In this case, the cornet is supplied with a fourth piston and a second bell that tappers inversely, as compared with the main bell, thus producing a muted tone. The player could then choose between an “open” or a muted tone almost instantaneously, without having to recur to a separate mute. It is a brass, having three top-sprung piston valves, with coiled springs, brass disc pin guides, and cork bumpers. The shorter fourth piston valve activates the muted bell, and it is bottom-sprung with a metal guide pin on bottom of piston. This cornet still has an additional rotary valve with a wingnut switch to change the total length of tubing used, and therefore the pitch of the instrument. There is a water-key on the leadpipe bow, a B-flat tuning bit, and a silver-plated mouthpiece. Nominal pitch: B-flat and A.
