Antique Musical Instruments/American Standard Trombone

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Expert: - 3/12/2008


Question
 Digging through the band room today, I found an American Standard trombone, and it has a satin like silver finish.  The horn does not have a screw on the slide where it meets the bell, and the bore seems small, the bell is tiny.  The only number in can find on it is on the main slide brace, and that is 620.  The horn actually reminds me of a 1920s Conn 4H I used to have several years ago.  Can you tell me anything about what I have?  Thanks!

Answer
American Standard was HN White tradename stated in 1925 for their amateur line of instruments.  IF the 620 is a serial number then it is likely a a mid 1920s instrument.  The connection between bell and slide is known as a friction fit, and many trombone of that time were small as what gained the nickname of pea-shooter.  It will have a more brilliant, piercing sound than modern trombones.

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

Expertise

Please note: My area is BRASS instruments, not other wind, string or percussion instruments. I will provide information on antique, obscure and out of production BRASS instruments. 1) Please don't ask for evaluations, I'll not provide them on this site. 2) I am often asked very similar questions, so I'd invite you to first check on Horn-u-Copia.net. Much of the information I have garnered about this topic, I have posted on this WEB site.

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I perform in several historical bands, have informally researched the area, repair brass instruments, and operate a Forum dedicated to the topic at http://horn-u-copia.net

Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.

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