Expert: Kenton Scott - 3/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have acquired an old trumpet from my grandparents so i showed it to my band director and she said it looked slightly longer than a trumpet with Art-so-i Professional engraved on the bell she also says it looks foreign and i want to who and where this "trumpet" so to speak was made

ANSWER: I probably need more information to figure this one out.  There was a brand name of Art, and Lyon and Healy used Artiste as a tradename.  I'm not sure what is engraved on there, but I suspect that there are some letters that aren't so legible.



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

QUESTION: Upon looking under a microscope engraved is Art-i-so, with a line above the O, it is also written in a sort of medivalish/Old English font and under that is professional and as i said before it is slightly longer than a trumpet

Answer
Well, you've got me on that one.  My guess is that it is a stencil.  That is, it was sold by a music store and Art-i-so was the store brand.  Have you tried it with a tuner or piano, or something to check its pitch?  It does look long in the picture, but sometimes pictures can be deceiving.