Original Item: Only One Available. The York Band Instrument Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan is one of the most legendary names in U.S. brass instrument manufacture. The instruments that they manufactured in the first half of the 20th century are some of the most sought after around, especially their legendary tubas. The company unfortunately fell victim to the Great Depression, and was bought out in 1940, but to this day other makers are still trying to recreate the instruments they made.

As they were a well-known maker of brass instruments, 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 February 1918, this bugle had a 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. The original leather carry strap is unfortunately completely missing.

A great piece of WWI militaria, from a renowned maker of brass 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).