Expert: Kenton Scott - 8/19/2009

Question
I have seen your responses to questions about Beau Ideal valve trombones made by Lyon and Healey. I have a similarly marked slide trombone, Chicago listed under the name. The instrument has very elegantly done carved and raised floral pattern at the joints and at multiple other places on the slide. What can you tell me about the horn? Thanks very much for this great service.

Answer
Probably nothing more than what you already know.  Lyon & Healy acquired product from a variety of sources and re-branded them.  A series of fires destroyed what records they had and so few specifics are known of their business.  Trombones of that era are as likely to be high pitch as low pitch, and they were also made with more cylindrical tubing so they have a more penetrating sound than what we are accustomed to hearing from trombones today.