"I have recently (March 2013)acquired a buglet with serial number 8652 from an auction house in Houston, Texas. The attached photos describe it. These were used to signal wheelmen during parades or large club bicycle rides in the high wheel era of the late 1800's.Â
The mouthpiece is engraved MISSENHARTER N.Y. and the bell is engraved:
AMERICAN
EXCELSIOR
Harry Coleman
MANF'R
NEW YORK
8652
This particular buglet has been misshapen by someone with the bell 'squashed' a bit, but not creased. Another buglet that I also recently acquired is not stamped with a maker's name but has the oval-shaped bell of a pocket bugle used by wheelmen. It is shown for comparison in the photos and has a new mouthpiece inserted. By the way, it is a three-turn buglet whereas the Coleman is a four-turn buglet."
