Expert: Kenton Scott - 3/21/2006

Question
I recently purchased a Frank Holton Trumpet, serial
#83020, Silver. The mouthpiece is gold plated,Heim#2
It has an LP marking where the mouthpiece fits. It has a " patent applied" for Stamped next to some kind of mechanisim in front of the valves. It has a few small dents, but is in excellent shape. Does it have a model name? I know there is a Maynard Ferguson model that is valuable. Any idea about the average price or value? I paid $200.00 for it.
Thanks for any info you can give.

Answer
Hi Chet,

(Chet was my Dad's nickname, real name was Chester.  Not a name or nick name you hear much anymore.)

There is a period of time where there are overlapping serial numbers for Holton, and your horn is in that area, but as you describe it, I suspect that it was made on the earlier schedule which would make it a 1924.

The LP means that is was built to play at Low Pitch, at which is the pitch modern bands play.  

Holton would have had several models in the 20's so it is hard to say what it might be.  But, it certainly wouldn't be a Maynard!  In 1924, he hadn't been conceived of yet.  (He was born in 1928.)

A machanism may be a finger ring for the 3rd valve slide.  Or, it might be a rotor for changing the pitch of the horn.

Holtons are good horns, and I think you probably got a good deal.