Antique Musical Instruments/Slingerland Trumpet?

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Expert: - 10/15/2006


Question
We have an old silver colored trumpet type instrument.  Not sure if it is sterling silver.  It also doesn't have the three push down 'valves'on top that I've seen on trumpets, it has two 'teapot' type valves on the curves of the pipes.  Sorry, I'm not familiar with the proper names of the parts of the instrument! It says Slingerland USA on it and the case says Slingerland Radio King Chicago,ILL USA.  There is a number on the horn as well 10537.
Thank you for any info you can give me.
Donna

Answer
I believe what you are describing is a bugle used in old style Drum and Bugle Corps.

Slingerland was generally associated with percussion instruments but also handled a line of bugles.  They started in business in 1916.  They made percussion instruments and were a dealer in bugles.  However, they are credited with the invention of a bugle with one piston and one rotary valve.

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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