Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a Buescher trumpet serial number 169554.  I believe that it was produced somewhere about 1912.  It is also marked as patented October 29, 1907 and as being "True Tone".  "LP" and "10" are also inscribed.  The original mouthpiece says "Buescher True Tone" and the size is 6A.  I was just wondering what you might be able to tell me about this instrument--model type, anything.  Thank you.

ANSWER: I'd say it was made around 1924.  The patent was for the manner in which the bell was made to improve response.  LP means that it plays at modern (low) pitch.  It is a Model 10 - Professional Model.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What does the serial number given mean, then?  Listings of serial numbers place the horn in the 1911-1913 range, but from the information you provided and further research based on this information, the horn is more probably early-mid 1920s, as you said.

Answer
I can only surmise that it must depend on the serial number list you look at.  

If you look at:  http://musictrader.com/buescher.html or
http://www.horn-u-copia.net/Buescherlist.html

the serial number is consistent with the date I gave you.

That being said, most serial number lists are constructed after the fact by interested individuals, not by the companies themselves.  Consequently, some are more accurate than others.