WWII Indian Airborne Wing

[Jerry B]

Picked this up today along with an Indian made 1943 dated bugle, both came from a house clearance in west wales.

The wings are textbook Indian made types and are in very good condition.

The bugle is made by the oldest maker of such instruments in Indai, Nadir Ali & Co who have been based in Meerut since 1885. Due to shipping issues in WWII they became a much larger company taking over from imported instruments and are still in business today.

[Watchdog]

Nice find Jerry. Imagination suggests the orignal owner was a member of the British Indian Army, an officer do you think?. This really is a case of "if only they could talk"
Does the bugle have any unit marks at all?

Regards

Mark

[Jerry B]

Nice find Jerry. Imagination suggests the orignal owner was a member of the British Indian Army, an officer do you think?. This really is a case of "if only they could talk"
Does the bugle have any unit marks at all?

Regards

Mark

Indeed Mark, if only they could tell their story.

No unit marks on the bugle, the mouthpiece is English made with some makers marks etc and there is an odd mark by it on the neck of the bugle which I showed.

[Watchdog]

Thanks Jerry, yes I noted the mark which looks to me like Indian script in some kind of short-hand. Must be like an Indian speaker trying to decipher English abbreviations.

I am not surprised that the mouthpiece is English as (apparently or so I have been advised by miltary musicians) it is the most important part of the instrument and you can't just "knock 'em out" ,the rest is just "a bit of plumbing" (stands by for howls of outrage from buglers!) is the mouthpiece marked as silver?

Regards

Mark

[Jerry B]

Thanks Jerry, yes I noted the mark which looks to me like Indian script in some kind of short-hand. Must be like an Indian speaker trying to decipher English abbreviations.

I am not surprised that the mouthpiece is English as (apparently or so I have been advised by miltary musicians) it is the most important part of the instrument and you can't just "knock 'em out" ,the rest is just "a bit of plumbing" (stands by for howls of outrage from buglers!) is the mouthpiece marked as silver?

Regards

Mark

LOL

no silver mark on the mouthpiece, it is marked B & H 1566 over Made in England followed by DT

[Watchdog]

Probably nickle then. I only asked because silver is the traditional material for brass instrument mouthpieces but nickle is the cheaper (and more durable) alternative. The military in my experience have displayed neither rhyme nor reason in the choice

Regards

Mark