Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/11/2011

Question
I have an Olds trombone that is the recording model S# 111761 and I am trying to find out when it was made and it's approximate value. It is in excellent condition it has one small dent about 2 inches above the olds symbol on the bell.

Answer
You would think it should be easy to date an Olds trombone, wouldn't you?  Well, there is an on going discussion about that.  Olds - for most of its years of existence used a different serial number list for trombones than it did for trumpets/cornets.  But in January of 1954, the lists were merged into a single list at 100,000.  So, your horn should date to shortly after that.  It is estimated that they reached 150,000 by August 1955.