Original Item: Only One Available. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the United States. Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success, largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. military during the American Civil War and Spanish–American War.

This relationship continued into the 20th century, and with the loss of access to German brass instrument production, they were an obvious choice during WWI to supply bugles to the U.S. armed forces, and this is one such bugle. It is made completely of brass, and is most likely in Eb or G, the usual key that bugles of the time were pitched in. The bugle is clearly marked on the bell with the maker, depot, and date:

Accepted in August 1917, this bugle had a very good chance of actually being put into service during the war. Condition is very good, with denting and wear commensurate with service and age. We did not test the bugle in any way, but there is no reason that it should not work. It looks to have had some type of plating on the outside of the bell flare, but it has oxidized.

The bugle has a nice blue rope with tassels attached to it, as well as a braded carry strap, but these are both definitely contemporary replacement items.

A great piece of WWI militaria, from a well known maker of military instruments. Ready to display!

The word bugle in the United States is often used as a generic term for many types of horns including the instruments used by the armed services, drum and bugle corps and by various other organizations such as the Boy Scouts. Nevertheless, bugles have always been specified correctly by the armed services and the suppliers and manufacturers of these instruments as either bugles (a conical bore natural horn) or as a field trumpet (a cylindrical bore natural horn over 2/3rds of its length).