Antique Musical Instruments/A Holton Chicago Trumpet

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Expert: - 1/23/2009


Question
I have a Holton trumpet (it is definitely not a cornet), with a union label stamp on the middle valve, and is also marked Frank Holton & Co.  Chicago   serial number  28234.  The leadpipe is stamped with a patent of February 20, 1899.  It was my grandfather's, then father's, now mine.  What can you tell me about it?  I am not interested in an appraisal or in selling it.  If you would like a picture, just let me know.

Answer
You horn was made in 1914.  

Holton played trombone with Sousa in the 1890s, and then Holton opened a shop in Chicago in 1898. selling slide-oil, Electric Oil,.

By 1900, the Frank Holton Company was producing trombones, cornets, trumpets and euphoniums, and percussion.  He had several models of trombones, his other instruments were a single model.

The company moved to Elkhorn, WI in 1917.

I'm curious what that patent was for.  Does it have the patent number stamped on it?  

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

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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

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B.S. Ed, M.S.

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