So i bought this for quite cheap, and indeed it's in quite poor condition (see hole and cracks on the bell). But it is somewhat playable. I unlocked almost all the caps and one slide, but i wonder what to do about the cracks on the bell.. if anybody has some tips about restoring it, it would be of great help.

I'll upload a video of me playing it, although I'm not very good at it:

https://imgur.com/a/MWNsduZ

got a bonus with my King Silvertone Cornet today, a 1930's Bach New York 9A mouthpiece https://postimg.cc/gallery/qC2tH4y A little beat up, but not so much for 90+ years old, and the part that matter's is fine. Gives the cornet a nice dark sound.

I just bought this custom King Euclid Style cornet. Normally this would be, in catalogs, as the Cleveland Euclid 601, but this one is stamped on the 2nd valve HN White Co. with sn 113204, a King sn for 1928. It also was custom ordered with a custom engraved Silvertone sterling bell and is the large 0.46" bore with a 4.62" bell.

Research shows that this was made for Lida M. Stage (full name Lydia M. Stage(Fullmer)) a well-known music educator and band director in Butler, Indiana, active mainly from the 1920s through the 1950s.Key details:

Born: 1877

Married: Frank J. Stage

Her deep roots in music education stretch back straight into the early 1900s.

Historical records paint a picture of an incredibly active, trailblazing woman who single-handedly shaped the instrumental music scene in DeKalb County, Indiana (specifically around Butler and Waterloo) decades before the 1933 photo was taken.

Shaping a Small-Town Music Scene

In the early 1900s, long before school bands were standard across the country, Mrs. Lida Stage was already operating as a prominent multi-school instrumental music instructor. Her early career highlights include:

• The All-Girls Band: She founded and directed a highly celebrated all-girls band in Butler, Indiana. They were a fixture of the community, holding regular public concerts on the old bandstand at the northwest corner of Broadway and Oak Streets.
• The Butler Boys' Band: Proving her versatility, she simultaneously directed the town's boys' band, which local historical accounts affectionately referred to as "a big band of little fellows."
• The Multi-School Circuit: By the late 1920s and early 1930s, she was formally employed as the official Band and Orchestra Director for multiple high schools in the region, split between Butler High School and nearby Waterloo High School.
• She taught instrumental music (band and orchestra) at Butler High School and nearby schools (including Waterloo).
• She served as directress of the Butler Ladies' Band — a notable all-female community band in the area. Photos from the 1930s show her leading the group.
• She was active in Indiana music education circles, listed in educational directories as a band/orchestra instructor, and helped build strong school band programs. Butler High School yearbooks from the 1940s praise the band under her leadership.

This cornet was almost certainly her personal instrument — band directors often had high-end engraved horns like this for performances and teaching.

1. DeKalb County, Indiana Historical Records

From the official INGenWeb historical project tracking DeKalb County communities:

"In the early 1900's, the school was an integral part of the community. Mrs. Lida Stage taught music for many years and served as the leader for an all girl's band. The band played at special events and held concerts in the old bandstand at the northwest corner of Broadway and Oak Streets." (Source: History of Butler, DeKalb County, Indiana — INGenWeb)

2. 1930s National Educational Directories

Lida M. Stage is explicitly documented in historical educational text records, verifying her formal employment as a multi-school instrumental music instructor:

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(Note: Corresponding local records also mention her teaching instrumental music and leading band/orchestra programs at nearby schools, including Waterloo, with Butler High School yearbooks from the 1940s actively praising the quality of the band under her direction.)

3. Family History & Registry Archives

Genealogical registries corroborate her full maiden name and marital records, linking her directly to the region:

Full Name: Lydia M. Fullmer (Stage)

Lifespan: 1877–1962

Spouse: Frank J. Stage (documented on official regional registries, including WWI registration records). (Source: FamilySearch Historical Ancestry Database)

Guys I have a question. I have a french besson Meha in the 94k range and I have been really inspecting the horn recently and I found these marks on the inner tubes of second valve slide. I think they may be manufacturing marks. Does anyone recognize them and thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

I ran across this article from 1931 by Del Staigers and thought it a good read and advice even today.

Del Staigers (Charles Delaware “Del” Staigers, 1899–1950) was one of the most celebrated American cornet soloists of the early-to-mid 20th century, often compared to Herbert L. Clarke in fame and virtuosity during his prime.Quick Biography

• Born: August 20, 1899, in Muncie, Indiana
• Died: July 12, 1950 (age 50), in New York
• Began cornet at a very young age and showed prodigious talent. He studied with local teachers and quickly rose through band ranks.
• Career Highlights:
  • Soloist with the Edwin Franko Goldman Band (1926–1934), where he was a star attraction and also served as assistant conductor.
  • Performed as a featured soloist with many top bands and orchestras.
  • Recorded extensively (78 rpm records) and was known for dazzling technical displays on classics like Carnival of Venice, The Flight of the Bumblebee, and his own arrangements.
  • Toured widely and was a popular radio and concert performer.

Connection to King Instruments:

Staigers was a long-time King artist/endorser. H.N. White (King) produced “Del Staigers” model mouthpieces, and he promoted their cornets and trumpets. Many of his performances and recordings were on King instruments (including Master Model and Silvertone models with sterling silver bells).His endorsement helped popularize King’s higher-end cornets in the 1920s–1940s, which aligns perfectly with the era of your Lida M. Stage Silvertone cornet.

Legacy:

Staigers represented the peak of the “old-school” cornet virtuoso tradition — brilliant technique, singing tone, and showmanship. He bridged the Sousa/Clarke era into the mid-20th century before the trumpet largely took over the spotlight in jazz and popular music.