Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/12/2010

Question
I asked about a Buescher a week or two ago and was told I didn't give enough information so here is round two.
Serial #260683, patent oct 29. 07, it also has 'tp' under the serial number.
There's also a true tone trademark on the other side on the second valve but no numbers there.
At the end of the third slide it has 683 also.
As for the bell and the design it just says The Buescher with Elkheart-Ind. U.S.A. underneath it. The design looks like it was gold in its better days.
Hope thats enough because thats all there is. Just wanting any information you can give me on it.

Answer
It dates to 1931. The patent was for the manufacturing technique where they increased bell metal width which was marketed by Buescher as the Split-No-Tone bell.  I suspect the tp is probably lp which would stand for low pitch (as opposed to high pitch) which means it would play in tune with modern instruments.   The 683 is just a maker's mark to keep the parts together.  It is very likely that the bell highlight was gold plated, as that was one of the ways to decorate the more expensive models.