Antique Musical Instruments/Olds Superstar V20

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Expert: - 5/5/2007


Question
QUESTION: I have an Olds Superstar v20, and we think (we  are not sure) that the serial Number is either 68 or 89.  How old/new would this be?
ANSWER: Something is wrong there.  A two digit serial number would go back to the early days of the Olds company (c. 1910), but the company didn't start making trumpets until about 1928.  And, the Superstar didn't come out until the 1950s.

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QUESTION: Its a Trombone, and we cant find any other number on the instrument itself...

Answer
Hmm.  (now why did I think it was a trumpet???  Too early in the morning, I guess)

A V20 should be a Superstar trigger silver plated trombone.  
In looking through catalogs, the first mention I find of the Superstar is in 1978.  It is not on the list in 1973.  So, it apparently came out later than I originally thought.

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

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B.S. Ed, M.S.

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