Tennessee, USA
Eastman Corporation, a Kodak subsidiary

Plastic
1942
Length: 18 inches
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Bugles / Keyed Bugles

Molded into the plastic: (Eagle w/spread wings Emblem) / Aman / Official Bugle / Made in USA

This rare olive drab plastic 18″ bugle with original mouthpiece, slide and mountings was made for the Military during WW II to conserve brass for the war effort.  Due to the brass shortages of World War II, the army contracted for a number of these heavy-duty plastic bugles. Few have survived to the present day. The plastic used to make these bugles had the brand name Tenite and was manufactured by Tennessee Eastman Corporation, a Kodak subsidiary. These are much rarer than the typical brass military bugles. They were easy blowing, but not as loud, and made in the key of G with a slide to F.

When playing the valveless bugle, all pitch control is done by the player varying their embouchure.  Thus, the bugle is limited to the overtone series consisting of five notes on the bugle.  These notes are known as the bugle scale.