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FRENCH HORNS (and Wagner Tubas)
Olds, Kanstul, Gerarda, Wisemann.
This is a rough guide for people who work in the music retail sector: it is not intended to be an encyclopedia entry and should not be treated as such. BEWARE, it may also contain some jokes and light-hearted comments (such as this one).
To answer the second question first, ALL French horns are operated with the LEFT hand on the valve-keys - the right hand is used inside the bell to fine tune the notes (and to help hold the instrument up). (see also Wagner tuba)*
Single horns are the most simple of the circular valved horns. The instrument has a fundamental note of either Bb or F, and the player is able to play overtones in the open position in that key and add the "missing" chromatic notes by using the valves either singly or in combination along with changing lip and air pressure. Double horns are slightly more complicated.
French horn players refer to themselves as "horn players". (This can be confusing as many saxophonists and players of other brass instruments also refer to themselves in this way.) Most professional players will play double-horn, that is, a horn with the three standard valves plus a "change-valve", operated by the left thumb, which directs the air via a second tube section to the second set of tubing found on each valve, thereby changing the pitch from F to Bb. The player may also choose to "string" the change valve in the opposite direction, making the pitch change from Bb to F. (more about string later) Some professionals also use a triple horn which has two thumb triggers and can change from one key to either a higher-pitched set of tuning slides or (more rarely) a lower-pitched one.
Each valve has a straight tube attaching it to the next valve and another tube which comes into play when the valve is pushed. This second peice of tubing adds to the overall length of the instrument which therefore produces a lower note. So far, this is the same as on the standard valves of the other brass instruments.
Double horns have valves that are twice as large as those on the single horn and have an extra set of holes running through them which come into play when the change valve has been pressed. There are also extra sets of tubes attached to the outside of the valves. These must be different lengths to the first set as the horn will now be playing in a different key.
These external tubes are often called tuning slides, although only part of each tube can be moved to fine tune the notes on a particular valve. Again, this is similar to the rest of the brass family of instruments.
The most noticable difference is that (outside Germany) almost all brass instruments use piston type valves where the French horn has rotary valves. Rotary valves are even more prone to becoming stuck than their piston-type cousins, so they need to be used (or at least moved) EVERY day to keep the oil running. You should advise your customers to do this.
As with all brass instruments, the tuning slides should also be moved on a daily basis to prevent them from becoming stuck.
Traditionally, the rotary valve is turned by means of a string that is partially wrapped around the valve. The key part of the valve has a spring attached to it to force it to return when the key is released. The string can be wrapped either clockwise or anti-clockwise, meaning that the player can choose to have either the Bb "side" or the F side as the "normal" position. Some horns have mechanical linkages that replacce the string. These are also reversable, and the reversal is also referred to as re-stringing. The mechanical (metal) linkages do not need to be replaced as frequently as the traditional string, which tends to break after extended use.
The automatic compensation system is not necessary on the French horn as the player can select from several possible fingerings for each note and/or adjust the tuning using the right hand within the bell.
The good news from the retailer's perspective is that horns are generally quite a high value item, so a little time spent gaining some fundamental knowledge of the instrument can lead to a good sale which takes only the same effort as selling a less expensive item.
*The Wagner Tuba is also operated by the player's left hand, though right-hand fine-tuning is not possible in this instance. A variety of pitches are available, usually F or Bb, but also available as a double horn in F/Bb. The first examples of these instruments were given to the orchestra's horn players. Had they been given to the trumpet section, no doubt they would have been played right-handed.
The Wagner tuba is almost identical to the German-style Tenor Horn, which is found in German brass bands and military bands. The difference is that the Tenorhorn is played with the right hand and is therefore set up like the mirror image of the Wagner tuba, though it also has rotary valves. If some-one can tell me which of these instruments came first I'd be grateful...
Left to right: Wagner tuba in F made by Gebruder Alexander; German Tenorhorn in Bb; Ken playing the right-handed German Tenorhorn at an all tuba concert in 2006 (sorry Ken, I don't know which band you were in at the time).
For more info on the Wagner Tuba, go to http://www.wagner-tuba.com. Unfortunately, the historical information is not especially clear on this site for the lay reader, but still worth a look.
btw: the French horn is apparently not originally from France either.
If you think this instrument has a problem with its name, check out the Cor Anglais!!! 
45-50400 (FH56) Olds single French horn in F with interchangable Eb main tuning slide (crook).
45-50410 (FH58-1) Olds double French Horn F/Bb.
F. E. OLDS FRENCH HORNS - by special order only |
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| 45-50400 | SINGLE FRENCH HORN IN F WITH Eb CROOK LACQUER | FH56 |
$3,380.00 |
| 45-50410 | DOUBLE FRENCH HORN OUTFIT LACQUER | FH58-1 |
$5,399.00 |
| 45-50415 | FH58S-1 DOUBLE FRENCH HORN OUTFIT SILVER PLATE | FH58S-1 |
$6,435.00 |
KANSTUL MARCHING FRENCH HORNS |
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| KAN-5541 | SINGLE HORN IN Bb .470" BORE 12 1/4" BELL LACQUER | CFH285-1 |
$4,250.00 |
| KAN-5542 | SINGLE Bb HORN OUTFIT .470" BORE 12.25" BELL SILVER PL | CFH285-2 |
$4,650.00 |
M. GERARDA FRENCH HORN - while stocks last |
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| JBFH-601 | M GERARDA FULL DOUBLE FRENCH HORN IN ZIP-UP CASE, CUPRONICKEL TUNING PIPE, LACQUER | $1,495.00 | |
WISEMANN FRENCH HORNS |
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| WI-DFH-CF450 | WISEMANN SINGLE FRENCH HORN IN F, COMPACT SIZE TO SUIT YOUNG BEGINNERS | $795.00 |
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| WI-DFH-BF600 | WISEMANN double French horn, Bb/F, 4 Valve, brass lacquered, cupronickel slides, rose brass leadpipe, mechanical Unibal linkage, reversible thumb trigger, fixed yellow bell, bell:11.97", bore:0.465", with Wisemann light case. | $1,985.00 |
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Above: Wisemann CF450 single French Horn, compact design; below: Wisemann BF600 double French horn.
