Re: Peckhorn


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Posted by Cornologist on July 29, 2001 at 19:14:27:

In Reply to: Peckhorn posted by Ben Garrison on July 29, 2001 at 16:48:01:

The name comes from Civil War days, where the alto saxhorn was used extensively in bands of the day. It seems that the players of these instruments were usually the first band casualties in battle, often as a result of friendly fire.

After a time, it was impossible to find players for this instrument and piles of usused altos accumulated in the field. Then some enterprising cook noticed that one of these things held almost exactly 337 cubic inches of dry corn, or a peck, so the horn was pressed into use as a measuring device in the mess. And so the name stuck.

A tuba holds about a bushel, but is awkward to hold, so I am not aware of one being called a "bushel horn", although a cornet will hold about a dry quart.

BTW does anyone know where the curious name "blatweasel" for one of these things came from?


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