Expert: Kenton Scott - 11/28/2009

Question
My daughter recently purchased a Holton Eb alto horn and I was wondering if you could help me find out any information about it. It says Holton Chicago and the sn is 12711. Thanks!

Answer
It dates to 1911.  

In 1898, Frank Holton opened a third-floor two-room Chicago shop at Clark and Madison Streets and began experiments to improve brasswind instrument designs. Holton hired his first instrument maker about 1898 and created his first trombone - a Special.

By 1900, the Frank Holton Company was producing several models of trombones, cornets, trumpets and euphoniums, as well as percussion instruments.

By 1906, he employed about 100 employees, making slide and valve trombones, cornets and mellophones. In 1909, he introduced the Holtonphone, his variation on the raincatcher sousaphone.

In 1907, the manufacturing business renamed Frank Holton & Co. (Wm Frank was VP)

In 1911 he built a new factory.

In 1917 Holton moved his company to Elkhorn, Wisconsin