Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/14/2006

Question
First let me say, that I know nothing about the trombone, so I will try to provide as much information as possible.  The engraving on the bell (flared end) says "The Perfected Harwood Professional - American Made Genuine Harwood Trade Mark - warranted for 10 years - J. W, Jenkins Sons Music Co. - Sole Agents - K.C. MO U.S.A."  There is some beautiful scroll work engraved around this information.  It is all silver, though tarnished some. The part that slides has 3 buttons (like on a trumpet) marked 1, 2 and 3.  The one marked 2 also has the numbers 2377 on it.  The button tops appear to be mother of pearl.  Okay, so my question is - does this trombone have any value?  Or should I donate it to the school band?  Thanks!  
P.S. - I searched on the internet and found nothing.

Answer
Actually, Jenkins has put pretty much all the information on the horn! Jenkins was a dealer in Kansas City.  Harwood was a tradename of theirs.  But there is some  - shall we say - misleading information on there as well.  They say "Sole Agents" which would lead the reader to believe that this was an established brand somewhere else and Jenkins was just handling it.  

He also used the description on other instruments "Harwood American Professional", which would imply that it was a US made horn.  But information seems to indicate otherwise, his horns were actually Czech made either by Kohlert for woodwinds, or Bohland and Fuchs for brass.

The company name changed from J. W. Jenkins Co to J. W. Jenkins Sons and in the 1920's and '30 imported lots of Czech horns.  

Your horn has an interesting twist though, is says American Made.  Which is either creative advertising or possibly they found a US company to furnish them with product.  

I'm not sure what you actually have.  I suspect you have a valve trombone, in that you refer to 3 buttons, but if so, it wouldn't have a slide that actually slides.