Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/12/2009

Question
I've gotten a silver Frank Holton Trombone, #126105. It was pretty messy when I got it, but a round of silver polish improved it significantly. The engraving says Collegiate, Holton Elkhart Indiana. It also has a place that seems to be stamped "Chicago". It looks pretty now that it is polished. It still has some dings. It seems the the bottom of the inside slide has been replaced with copper pipe, and there seem to have been some dings in the slide that I do feel and hear when using the slide.

It does not have a slide lock, like my newer bones. It does not have a screw-on connector for the two pieces of the bone. The two pieces are held together by friction and gravity alone.

It is missing the counter-weight I've been used to having on other bones. It looks like there once may have been one on it. Would you know if there might be a picture of what it should look like somewhere on the 'net?

What is the likely age of the instrument?

Is it worth it to get the slide repaired?

Answer
In 1917 Holton moved his company from Chicago to Elkhorn, Wisconsin,

In the 1930's, Holton produced moderately priced, precision-built instruments. Student editions of the Holton originals called Collegiate.

Your horn dates to 1939.

As far as the counter-weight - it may have had one or it may not.  Some versions had them, some were added after-market, and some did not.

You can look through here to see several Collegiates:  http://www.horn-u-copia.net/show.php?selby=+where+instrument%3D%22Trombone%22+an...