Expert: Kenton Scott - 5/2/2006

Question
Hi. My son is learning to play his grandfather's trumpet and I wondered if you could give me any information on it. The trumpet is an unlaquered one (possibly military? - he was in the RAF) and my father bought it in London C 1945. The bell is stamped Hohner London, Frisco Special. It also has what looks like a solid dilver mouthpiece which would be the same age. this is marked rudy muck cusion rim made in england 19c. I would be grateful if you have any information.
Many thanks

Answer
HI Dee,

There was a C.W.H Hohner in Hamburg.  There are discrepancies on the dates of existance on the company but it was started in either 1868 or 1888 and looks like it continued at least through the 1920s. But the London address and Frisco Special seem unlikely with the German Hohner.  It is possible that some other company was using that as a tradename.  I don't know that the harmonica folks ever got into distributing brass instruments, but I suppose that is also a possibility.

The Rudy Muck mouthpiece would likely to have been made after 1932 after Rudy established his business in New York and started making the cushion rim mouthpieces.  I assume it says London because it was sold there.  It would be silver plated brass.

kms