Antique Musical Instruments/Imperial Band Instruments

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Expert: - 7/6/2009


Question
I recently acquired an Imperial Trumpet made in Williamsport PA.  The serial number is 71.  Do you have any knowledge of this company or these instruments?

Answer
Yes, Imperial was a company with mysterious origins.  It was probably a group of Keefer employees that started their own company making instruments for the student market.

Imperial Instrument Co. was formed in August of 1922. It was located at 643 Elmira St. in Williamsport. In 1926 the business was moved to 3 Maynard St. in South Williamsport which is just across the Susquehanna River. They were in business until 1935.

A 1926 ad in the South Williamsport High School yearbook has the following:

Imperial Band Inst. Mfg. Co. "Gold Tone" Instruments are made especially for School Bands and Orchestras

These are the variations I've seen of Imperial trumpets.  Does yours look like one of these?

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php?secondsel=+and+instrument%3D%22Trumpet%2...  

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

Expertise

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.

Experience

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

Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.

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