That put most new cornets out of the equation, as here in Australia new professional level cornets are $2,000 and over, and even new student cornets are around the four figure mark. So, the search was on for a horn of my own - requirements - it had to be relatively cheap, and be suitable for Brass Band use. The band I have recently joined is in a small rural town, and their instrument collection is old and worn - most of the cornets are old Boosey & Hawkes Internationals, which have seen better days. When I played A Grade, the band gave me a lovely Besson Sovereign to play (the one known as a 'Globe Stamp', which is also known as one of the better cornets ever made), but of course when I left I had to give it back. Now that I'm older and wiser (and busier), I didn't want to commit to the time and practice required for such a high level of banding, and so have joined a small local band, that is lots of fun to play in and is within my skills as a musician, if not as a marching bandsman! When I was in my University years I played in an A Grade Brass Band here in Australia, and competed in a few contests. I actually have 2 of these cornets, one in pretty mediocre shape, another that's a Reynolds Medalist - which was 95% the same horn in very nice shape.After a break of many years, I recently decided to get back into the world of Brass Bands. It's well thought of, a well regarded instrument, but not a particularly rare one. However, Olds wasn't a small shop, it made a fair number of instruments, and after they moved to Fullerton, they made a ton of instruments.

The Olds Ambassador is one of the early 'student' or 'affordable' horns out there before that was a big market. Whether that's good or bad depends on the quality of work and the person buying it. I don't think it has lacquer left at all - not surprising. From the pictures it looks like it's in good shape, but might have been buffed hard at some point - maybe Brasso, or steel wool of something. Despite being an older Olds Ambassador, there are a metric ton of these out there, if not often quite as old. My rough opinion is probably somewhere between $75-250, maybe $300 (but probably not).

Look at things that are roughly similar to yours.

Olds ambassador cornet 148162