Antique Musical Instruments/age of elkhart baritone

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Expert: - 11/4/2007


Question
just acquired an elkhart (elkhart band instruments) baritone, Bb, bell front, 3 piston valves, silver plated brass. S/N 141331. couldn't find a patent number anywhere. any idea of its year of manufacture?

m

ps. am also on hornucopia now; name's fartacus...

Answer

a) There was an Elkhart Musical Instrument Company that made brass instruments between 1912 and 1917, and that it subsequently merged with Martin.

b) there was a Elkhart Band Instrument Company that made brass instruments between 1924 and 1928.  In 1928, it merged with Buescher.  

c) Buescher also used it as a trade name.  At least some of these horns have the Buescher name on them also.  And, if you match up the serial # with the Buescher list, it it too early (1923).


My suspicion is that you may be in the b) group.

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Kenton Scott

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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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