Pan American 90A Cavalier

Pan American 90A Cavalier 1930-19??

Date: 1930-19??. Owner unknown.

This is Cavalier model 90A. "Cavalier" was a brand of Pan American, which was a brand of Conn. The 90A Cavalier was produced between 1930 and at least 1938. It had a #1½ bore (0.459").

As far as I can tell at this point, all Conn cornets built before 1955 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-1955 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.

What Pan American said in 1938:
In design, beauty, surdy construction, tonal qualities, intonation, action, no cornet in the low price field can compare with this one. Built Bb, A, 16" long, 4½" bell. Professional throughout. Heavy, durable plating, generous burnishing, buffing and engraving. Complete with bright silver plated mouthpiece and lyre in handsome Seal brown case lined with fine quality red crushed plush.