Ethel Merker, Holton H176 "Merker-Matic"

For over a half-century, Ethel Merker has excelled as a performer, as an educator and, recently, as co-designer of her namesake line of horns, the extraordinary Holton Merker-Matics. From the concert hall to the conservatory to the recording studio, Ethel has mastered the French horn’s gamut of styles. Frank Holton Company and horn legend Ethel Merker joined forces to create this newest double French horn in the acclaimed Merker-Matic line. All the features and characteristics of the popular Holton Merker-Matic French horns are present here—with the addition of a bronze bell for extra tonal warmth and richness. Available with either fixed or detachable bell and with mechanical linkage.

H176 Specifications Key: F–Bb Pitch: A445 with independent Bb tuning Bore: F: 11.89 mm (.468") Bb: 11.68 mm (.460") Bell: Bronze Mouthpipe: Newly developed taper with .306 venturi of nickel silver Lever action: Noiseless string action with stainless steel springs Valve rotors: Tapered hand-lapped brass with nickel-silver outside casings Bearing plates: Tapered brass Material: Solid nickel silver Waterkeys: One on mouthpipe and one on 3rd slide Case: Deluxe wood-shell double case Options: Available with detachable bell as H276; with mechanical linkage, fixed bell as H176M; with mechanical linkage, detachable bell as H276M