Expert: Kenton Scott - 10/15/2010

Question
Hello,
I am an elementary music teacher and I had a student bring in her grandfather's valve trombone for me to look at today.  It is stamped Boston Musical Instrument Manufy on the bell and the mouthpiece with a serial number of 8623 on the 2nd valve casing.  I would like to find out for her when this instrument was made and if there is any value in it.

Thank you,
Wes Locke

Answer
Wes,

It would date to around 1885.  They are collectible, so it would have some value.  It is quite likely that it is high pitch.  In which case, you probably can't get it to tune to A=440.  But they can usually be modified so they can play at 440, by adding sleeves to the main tuning slide or by lengthening the main tuning slide.

Boston was a respected maker of quality instruments.  They would have made valve trombones, in both tenor and alto pitches.  The altos are less common.