Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/15/2007

Question
I found a really old, hard black case in the attic of a house we purchased a few years ago.  Inside the case was a silver tarnished trumpet, with the following markings: MARCEAU, with simplified engravings on the bell.  It has 3 pearlized buttons for the fingers and on each valve there is a number 1, 2 and 3.  On the middle valve it says "Pat. Pending" and has the number 3039.  It has a silver mouth piece labled "Kleertone" "3".  I am wondering just how old this trumpet may be and is it actually silver or silver plate???  ALso, do you have any information on what country it was made and any info about the maker?  Thank you. Sandy

Answer
Marceau was a trade name used by Sears for imported instruments.  The horn would either be silver plate or what is called German silver, which is actually a form of brass, but looks silver.  

They were Czech made, and they show up in the 1900 Sears catalog, but I don't know how much before and after that that Sears used the tradename.