Conn 22A Flügelhorn
Date: 1941. Owned by Dave Harrison
This is the only flügelhorn in production by Conn during this period. Perhaps that is the reason it is listed as an "A" model: cornet. It isn't a cornet of course, but I guess a cornet would be the closest "relative". One of the most noticeable aspects of this instrument is of course the leadpipe which curves down to the valve cluster and back up again. Like the other Conn flugelhorns it takes a cornet mouthpiece, in this case a short shank cornet mouthpiece.
I am told by someone who owns a 22A that "The 22A plays very open with a broad yet focused dark and fluffy sound. Very even throughout the range."
I have seen at least one 22A dating to 1940, so the 22A must have been in production from at least that year. I have also seen a 1952 model. However, the 22A doesn't appear in the 1955 catalog. It is a #1½ (0.458") bore.
As far as I can tell at this point, all Conn cornets built before 1958 take a short shank cornet mouthpiece as opposed to the 2¾" "Bach-style" long shank cornet mouthpiece. The long shank cornet mouthpieces won't properly fit a pre-1958 Conn cornet and won't give the proper intonation or playing characteristics of a short shank cornet mouthpiece. All of Conn's "Connstellation" cornet mouthpieces are long shank mouthpieces. The "Improved Precision" Conn mouthpieces such as the Conn 4 are long shank if there is a "ridge" halfway down the shank, and short shank if there is no ridge (in which case it is a "Precision" mouthpiece). All Conn cornet mouthpieces built before the "Improved Precision" series (ridge), such as the "Precision" series (no ridge) are short shank mouthpieces. For more information see: The short and long of cornet mouthpieces
I am told by someone who owns a 22A that with a long shank mouthpiece the 22A really is very difficult to play in tune.
What Conn said in 1941:
Increasing recognition is being given to the Fluegelhorn in modern bands. Although built in Bb and of the same voice as the cornet,
the quality of tone is broader and more mellow. This tonal coloring is most desirable for bridging the gap between the
cornets and the horns. The 22-A fluegelhorn is entirely new in design and is the finest fluegelhorn made today. Built in Bb only.