Expert: Kenton Scott - 2/4/2006

Question
I have a 1913 trumpet of my great grandfather's and i would like to know it's value. It is 1913 frank holton trumpet. i have the original case and other attachments that belong with it.
It is in great condition, never been restored and i would love to know more about it.
I also have a saxaphone of my great grandfather's. it has engravings on it like the trumpet has also and i cant read it to clear, but i believe it says something like schaeffer or schefler on it with alot of other words that i believe are written in french. It is stamped paris/ france.i do believe it was from the early 1900's. Please help me to find out more about these instruments. thank you for all your help, Barbara johnson.

Answer
There were companies named Schaeffer and Scheffer but neither were in France.

As to the trumpet.  Holton made good instruments, but they made many models and some are of more interest than others.  The 1913 date may be a patent date, which does not date the instrument.  You would need to use the serial number to date the instrument.

Also, Holton would have sold many more cornets than trumpet in those early years, it is possible it is a cornet?

kms