CARE OF YOUR HORN

G ebr . A lexander
Rhein. Musikinstrumentenfabrik GmbH Bahnhofstrasse 9 D-55116 Mainz Phone +49 (0) 61 31/28 80 80 Fax +49 (0) 61 31/22 42 48 mail@musik-alexander.de www.musik-alexander.de

CARE OF YOUR HORN

Dear Hornplayer! Congratulation your decision to purchase an ALEXANDER horn composed of the finest materials, highest precision and outstanding craftsmanship. To ensure trouble free, lifetime pleasure with your instrument, please read carefully the following hints about care and maintenance: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tuning Oiling of moving parts external Oiling of valves internal Lubrication Cleaning the Interior Polishing the Exterior Surface String action Attachment of string Adjustable fingerhook and flipper Storing your instrument Page 3 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 6 Page 7 Page 7 Page 8 Page 8

10 Accessories for care and maintenance

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1 Tuning
A 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 supplied ensuring the optimal slide position.

2 Oiling the moving parts external

All 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

CARE OF YOUR HORN

3 Oiling the Valves internal

The valves of ALEXANDER instruments are outstanding in airtightness and precision. Long life will result from 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 instrument must be cleaned free of residues. Especially the valve slides must be free of grease. - Best suited is ALEXANDER Valve Oil for rotaryand piston valves. 2-3 drops should be applied on the rotors through the open valve slides while moving the rotors at the same time. CAUTION: Never apply oil through greased valve slides! 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 valves should be left to a qualified repairperson!
Under no circumstances should you open the valve casing. Do not take out the rotors. The high-precision

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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.

Valve Bearings

Valve Cap Alexander Bearing& Link-Oil

Inner Valves

Alexander Valve-Oil DI87

Valve Stem Action wing Unibal Link age

Alexander Bearing& Link-Oil DI88 Alexander-Unibal& Key-Oil DI88

4 Slide Lubrication
All valve-slides and tuning-slides need occasional greasing to prevent them from getting stuck. Please use ALEXANDER 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 Interior

Intensity of use and personal habits of the player deter-

CARE OF YOUR HORN

mine the frequency, in which a brass instrument should be cleaned internally. Please fill lukewarm water with a special detergent for brass 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. With slight water pressure carefully applied, tap water will gently flush through the entire instrument.

6 Polishing the Exterior Surface

Lacquering as well as silver- or goldplating protects the surface and keeps up the splendid appearance of your instrument. Please remove dirt and fingerprints from the surface 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 polish. For unlacquered instruments we recommend to use the ALEXANDER-MIRACLE-CLOTH. After polishing with that clean the surface with the smooth yellow ALEXANDER cloth.

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7 Stringaction Attachment of the String

Attach the silk string according to the sketch.

1.

3.

2.

4.

8 Adjustable Fingerhook and Flipper

By 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 instrument to other parts of their left hand. Please take care to fasten the screws on these devices evenly.
Flipper >

adjustable Fingerhook >

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9 Storing your Instrument

After playing, please remove the condensation (water) from the interior of your horn (especially out of lead pipe and 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 Materials for 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-REIN 6. 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!