care your horn

7/28/2019 Care Your Horn

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CARE OF YOUR HORN

Gebr. AlexAnderRhein. Musikinstrumentenfabrik GmbH

Bahnhofstrasse 9 D-55116 MainzPhone +49 (0) 61 31/28 80 80 Fax +49 (0) 61 31/22 42 48

[email protected] www.musik-alexander.de


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CARE OF YOUR HORN

Dear Hornplayer! Congratulation

your decision to purchase an ALEXANDER horn

composed of the finest materials, highest precision andoutstanding craftsmanship.

To ensure trouble free, lifetime pleasure with your

instrument, please read carefully the following hints

about care and maintenance:

1 Tuning Page 3

2 Oiling of moving parts external Page 3

3 Oiling of valves internal Page 4

4 Lubrication Page 5

5 Cleaning the Interior Page 6

6 Polishing the Exterior Surface Page 6

7 String action Attachment of string Page 7

8 Adjustable fingerhook and flipper Page 7

9 Storing your instrument Page 8

10 Accessories for care and maintenance Page 8


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1 TuningA brass instrument is tuned by pulling-out or pushing-in

the tuning slides.- Single french horn:

First tune with the main tuning slide. After that the

valve crooks are adjusted.

- Double french horn:

First tune the higher part of your horn (e.g. with a

Bb/F horn, Bb is first). Now the lower horn is tuned

using its main tuning slide (use thumb valve). With

F- and Bb-parts tuned, the valve crooks are then

adjusted.

Tuning slides and valve crooks of ALEXANDER

instruments are constructed to allow shortening

and lengthening of each slide as needed. This

allows perfect tuning even in adverse conditions,

i.e. extreme temperatures.

As an accessory, a slide fixing device can be sup-

plied ensuring the optimal slide position.

2 Oiling the moving parts externalAll external moving parts have to be oiled occasionally

to avoid dry linkages and unnecessary wear and tear.Please use ALEXANDER Bearing- and Link-Oil for:

- valvebearings under the valve-cap

- between valve stem and action wing

Please use ALEXANDER-Unibal and Key-Oil for:

- Unibal joints

- Minibal joints- the valve driving mechanism joints

ENGLISH


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3 Oiling the Valves internalThe valves of ALEXANDER instruments are outstand-

ing in airtightness and precision. Long life will resultfrom correct treatment. If you play your instrument

daily or nearly every day, you should never have to

add oil to the interior of the valves. Permanent use

keeps the valves moist inside at all times and prevents

crystallization, the cause of rotor blocking.

We recommend to oil the inner valves only, if the valves

stick after a prolonged pause from use.In order to move the valves dont press the valve levers!

Please move the valve by turning the action wing!

If you have got problems or questions, dont hesitate to

call us or your repair-shop !

- Before oiling the interior of the valves, the instru-

ment must be cleaned free of residues. Especially

the valve slides must be free of grease.

- Best suited is ALEXANDER Valve Oil for rotary-

and piston valves. 2-3 drops should be applied on

the rotors through the open valve slides while mov-

ing the rotors at the same time.

CAUTION: Never apply oil through greased valveslides! The extremely thin oil would dissolve the grease

and flush it into the rotors. Slow rotor movement would

be the result.

Any further handling of the interior valvesshould be left to a qualified repairperson!

Under no circumstances should you open the valvecasing. Do not take out the rotors. The high-precision

CARE OF YOUR HORN


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valve can become stuck and damaged beyond repair, if

the rotors are only slightly tilted when re-introduced

into the casing.

4 Slide LubricationAll valve-slides and tuning-slides need occasional

greasing to prevent them from getting stuck. Please useALEXANDER slide grease on a regular basis.

- pull out all slides and remove remains of old grease

- apply a thin film of fresh grease on to each slide

- move the slides on and out to spread the grease

evenly.

5 Cleaning the InteriorIntensity of use and personal habits of the player deter-

ENGLISH

AlexanderValve-Oil

DI87

Alexander Bearin& Link-Oil

Valve Cap

Valve Bearings

InnerValves

Valve Stem

Action wing

Unibal Link age

Alexander Bearin& Link-Oil DI88

Alexander-Unibal& Key-Oil DI88


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mine the frequency, in which a brass instrument should

be cleaned internally.

Please fill lukewarm water with a special detergent forbrass instruments into your horn. Gentle movements

will dissolve unwanted remains. Always flush the

instrument afterwards throughly with clear water to

remove all detergent. You should also remove the valve

slides and flush fresh water directly into the valves.

A specially designed ALEXANDER Jet Cleaning

Adapter can be connected to the shower hose. Withslight water pressure carefully applied, tap water will

gently flush through the entire instrument.

6 Polishing the Exterior SurfaceLacquering as well as silver- or goldplating protects the

surface and keeps up the splendid appearance of your

instrument. Please remove dirt and fingerprints from thesurface after each playing session with a clean, dry and

soft cloth. For lacquered instruments we recommend the

use of a lacquer polish. For instruments with silver- or

goldplating, please use a high quality silver or gold pol-

ish. For unlacquered instruments we recommend to use

the ALEXANDER-MIRACLE-CLOTH. After polish-

ing with that clean the surface with the smooth yellowALEXANDER cloth.

CARE OF YOUR HORN


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7 Stringaction Attachment of the StringAttach the silk string according to the sketch.

8 Adjustable Fingerhook and FlipperBy regular, all horns can be fitted with an adjustable

fingerhook and an additional handrest (flipper), which

is also fully adjustable.

The adjustable fingerhook is a great help, when a player

has problems with the position of a fixed fingerhook

because of his or her size of hand.

The adjustable handrest (flipper) has advantages not

only for players with large or small hands, but also for all

players, who wish to spread the weight of their instru-

ment to other parts of their left hand.

Please take care to fasten the screws on these devices

evenly.

ENGLISH

1. 3.

2. 4.

Flipper >

adjustableFingerhook >


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CARE OFYOUR HORN

9 Storing your InstrumentAfter playing, please remove the condensation (water)

from the interior of your horn (especially out of leadpipeand tuning slides). If you keep your instrument in a case,

leave the lid open. The vaporizing of internal moisture will

contribute to the preservation of your horn.

10 Recommended Materialsfor Care & Maintenance Accessoires

Accessoires Order

1. Alexander Bearing & Link-Oil DI88

2. Alexander Unibal- & Key-Oil DI89

3. Alexander Valve-Oil DI87

4. Alexander Slide Grease DI86

5. Alexander Jet Cleaning Adapter 70042-REIN6. Polish Cloth

(for lacquered Instruments) DI54

7. Polishing cloth

for unlacquered Instruments 70514-MC-10

8. Lacquer Polish 70087-590.230

9. Cleaning Set for horn 70162-RSHORN

10. Detergent for Brassinstruments Please call

Other accessoiries are also available. Feel free to inquire.

We wish you great pleasure and success with your Alexander

horn.

Your Alexander-Team!

care your horn

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