Antique Musical Instruments/ELKHART Buescher Grand Trombone

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/10/2010


Question
Hi I was wondering if you could possibly help me date this trombone? It is an Elkhart Buescher Grand, at the top of the slide, it is stamped, 143231, 38, LP, PAT OCT 29 07, and TRUETONE in a triangle underneath that. It has beautiful engraving on it, and the design on the bell is two toned, silver and yellow, and the inside of the bell is yellow as well. Is it gold plated in the yellow parts? Thanks in advance!

Answer
It dates to 1923.  The yellow in the bell is most likely gold wash.  If the yellow in other places (highlights, in the engraving, etc.) are about the same color, then they are likely gold plate as well.

Be careful cleaning off the gold sections, it is not as durable as the silver is.  

Antique Musical Instruments

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.