Antique Musical Instruments/Holton Trumpet Identification

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Expert: - 4/16/2006


Question
I have a Holton Elkhorn Silver/Nickel Trumpet with the "Patent Oct. 21 1924" Ser# 94960 and has Letters LF or LP on the mouthpiece receiver. Can I or you Identify this horns quality, value, age...? Thank you for your time.
Alfred

Answer
Hi Alfred,

You may have a trumpet, but cornets were more common back in 1927 when your horn was made.  The LP means that it will play in tune with modern instruments, and means Low Pitch.  (There were also High Pitch horn, which can't play in tune with modern instruments.)

Holton made qualtity instruments, and used the Holton name on their professional instruments.  They used Varsity as their second line and Holton Collegiate as a model name for their student level instruments.

Value would depend on condition, etc.  Check completed listings on eBay for similar instruments.  You will get a pretty good idea of the market value that way.

kms  

Antique Musical Instruments

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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.

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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.

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