Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/22/2008

Question
Hello.

I found what I believe to be a piccolo trombone or slide trumpet at a thrift
shop.  It has fairly elaborate floral etching on it.  Also etched on it is "The
Markin Band-Inst. Co. Elkhart Ind."  (I'm not totally sure about the spelling--
it could be "Marrin" or "Marlin.")  On the slide part is a "Union Label" stamp on
one section and the number "10210" on another section.  The bell measures
about 10.8 cm across.  The instrument as a whole measures around 53 cm
long.

Can you tell me anything about the instrument based on the bits of
information I have provided?  Do you know of any good vintage brass shops
in the Los Angeles area I could take it to to have it checked out?

I am a percussionist, so I can't use the instrument myself but would like to
know if this is the sort of instrument that brass players would want to use--it
is much too pretty to be sitting in my closet!

Thanks for your help.  Any information you can give me will be greatly
appreciated.

Answer
I suspect you are talking about a Martin Soprano Trombone, I've not seen one by Martin, but if that is a serial number, the horn was made before 1919.  


Brass players would be interested in it.  So, if your plans are to sell it, I would recommend not doing anything to it, other than maybe cleaning it up a bit if it needs it, get good photos and put it on eBay.  You will get a fair price for it there.