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Antique Musical Instruments/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Hawkes & Son Trombone | 11/9/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a silver coloured Trombone with quite alot of engraving on it (flowers etc) It also says on ... A: Bev, I concur with your speculation that it probably dates to the 1930-ish period. I've not seen ... | ||
| Old C.G. Conn Trombone | 11/3/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I recently inherited an old trombone from my late grandfather and was hoping you could help identify ... A: Conn re-used some of his model numbers. So, you can have very different instruments sporting the ... | ||
| Higham cornet | 10/16/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have been given old cornet made by this istrument maker, but it appears to be incomplete. There ... A: It seems like the bits for these old cornets disappear faster than the horns themselves. Since that ... | ||
| Question about a trumpet and a cello | 9/30/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a couple questions about the quailty of instruments. The two in mind are a trumpet and a ... A: The Couesnon trumpet circa 1927 should at least originally have been a good player. The Kay ... | ||
| A Lorenzo Sansone horn | 9/28/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I've bid on this horn on e-bay for $395 but they say it needs a valve job... (has only 10% ... A: Well, of course many things are possible. But going from the most probably, I would suspect that ... | ||
| A Lorenzo Sansone horn | 9/28/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I've bid on this horn on e-bay for $395 but they say it needs a valve job... (has only 10% ... A: It is hard to make much sense out of this description. If the valves don't work properly, they would ... | ||
| Carl Fischer Trombone | 9/23/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I traded an old banjo for this trombone. There is an ornate engraving on it, says "Carl Fischer ... A: Artist was one of the many model names that Fischer used on the instruments sold by the company. ... | ||
| Trouble finding right mouthpiece for antique mellophone | 9/21/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I am having trouble finding a mouthpiece for an antique mellophone. The local music store does not ... A: Glenn, That is going to be a tough one. Distin, effectively, used a vintage short shank trumpet ... | ||
| Baritone Bugle | 9/17/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I was in a Marine Drum & Bugle Corps in Danang, South Vietnam/ 1966-'68. Played baritone bugle. I ... A: Gretsch, Olds, Slingerland, Getzen, Ludwig, Conn would be the most likely choices. I remember D&B ... | ||
| Lyons Emperor Sousaphone | 9/15/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: Greetings, Recently acquired a cosmetically challenged but playable EEb Sousaphone with "Lyons ... A: It appears that it is likely that Lyons purchased from a variety of makers. But you might be able ... | ||
| Frank Holton Sousaphone | 9/12/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a Frank holton sousaphone serial number indicates that it was made it 1950 ive been trying to ... A: OK, the key is important. Most sousaphones made were either in BBb or Eb. But the use of Eb ... | ||
| bore size -Holton Revelation | 9/4/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: one of my older horns a Holton Revelation/#48 from the mid 1920's has a bore marking/the numeral "1" ... A: I'll post some inquiries and see if anything comes up. Here is one response: Holton does not seemed ... | ||
| W. Frank Co. Bugle | 8/31/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I just aquired a single valve bugle to add to a turn of the 19th/20th century Indian War/Spanish ... A: Is this the Frank bugle with the #1 on the bell or the one with the #34 on the valve casing? We ... | ||
| keefer trumpet | 8/29/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: i inheireted a Keefer trumpet #HP11099, and know nothing about this horn. I would appreciate ... A: Keefer was the manufacturer. They were located in Williamsport, PA. Keefer succeeded Henry Distin. ... | ||
| Wurlitzer Bros. Alto Horn | 8/3/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: Just recently it came to my possession this old Wurlitzer Bros. Cincinnati Eb Alto Horn. It is in ... A: Actually, in their day, alto horns were as common as oh, say baritones, or tubas. But eventually ... | ||
| Trumpets | 8/2/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: My son is about to begin band, and his teacher cautioned us not to buy instruments from China that ... A: There used to be a Senator model that Fisher imported from Germany years ago. I don't know if that ... | ||
| JW Pepper trombone in orig case | 7/31/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: We recently recovered a trombone in its case...we apparently bought it at a yard sale some years ago ... A: Pepper always imported some of the instruments he sold, but after 1910 he discontinued manufacturing ... | ||
| French Horn? | 7/31/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: We have what we think is a French Horn (photos available) on the front there is a symbol of sorts ... A: That is not a French horn, but rather a mellophone. Mellophones are not used in the modern concert ... | ||
| Varsity U.S.A. trumpet | 7/27/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a silver trumpet that has the serial number 847 on it. On the bell all there is an engraving, ... A: There is some debate on the Varsity trumpets. Holton apparently used the name for student level ... | ||
| e flat horn | 7/16/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: i have a e flat horn with rotary valves that has the markings Al lehnert my father says he tried in ... A: I assume that it is a Henry Lehnert. If so, here is my history page on this maker: ... | ||
| Silver Cornet | 7/15/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have my grandfather's silver cornet [with mouthpiece] that was made by a company called Lyon & ... A: >But what about the cornet? I found a very similar one [the overall shape is slightly different] on ... | ||
| Silver Cornet | 7/15/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have my grandfather's silver cornet [with mouthpiece] that was made by a company called Lyon & ... A: Lyon and Healy were major players in the music instrument business at the turn of the Century. The ... | ||
| Richard Sergent Fiddle | 7/14/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: Just wondering where came from and value it is a 1933 Richard Sergent fiddle. A: Never seen a vintage brass fiddle. Since the questioner thinks I'm being a smart ass, I guess I'll ... | ||
| Antique Trumpet | 7/12/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have an old trumpet with the following engraved om the bell; "Made by the Boston Musical ... A: 1884 would be my best estimate. Boston Musical Instrument Manufactory was formed in 1869 from the ... | ||
| lyon healy french horn | 7/12/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I cant find any similar pictures on the net it has a loop at the bottom. Can you tell me would it be ... A: American Professional is one of the trade names that Lyon and Healy used for imports that they ... | ||
| Upright Alto Horn | 7/9/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a silver (at least silver finish) upright Alto Horn. It is a USA Line by Grand Rapids Band ... A: Grand Rapids was a sister company to York Instrument Company. The horns came out of the same ... | ||
| trumpet | 6/29/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I found an old trumpet when my Dad passed away. It is in a case and looks pretty old. It has Empire ... A: Beare and Son were in London from 1883 to into the 2nd quarter of the 20th Century. Beare & Son ... | ||
| trombone fe olds | 6/28/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: my trombone has f e olds and son imprint but nothing to tell me the date thease are numbers i ... A: I'm assuming that one number is on the slide section and one is on the bell section. I believe that ... | ||
| trying to find historical data | 6/24/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: Can you provide history- manufacturing/commercial - re: Slingerland single-valve, chrome-plated, ... A: I don't have much. But apparently HH Slingerland was located in Chicago from 1913/1916 and was ... | ||
| Elkhart Trumpet | 6/23/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I saw your answer to a previous question - The Indiana Company was started in 1938 by the Martin ... A: I'm a bit confused by your question. It sounds like you have a Martin trumpet, not an Indiana ... | ||
| Vintage Clarinet | 6/11/2011 | ModernFlute |
| Q: I have a H. Bettoney Cadet Clarinet. Metal, appears to be silver plated. In brown leather case with ... A: the Cadet model by the Bettoney company is their student line of metal clarinets. I cannot recall if ... | ||
| Info about clarinet | 6/7/2011 | ModernFlute |
| Q: I bought a clarinet at a yard sale and no nothing about it, the maker is York and it says "est. ... A: here's some information I've obtained online about the York company: York, J.W. BI fl Grand Rapids / ... | ||
| Boosey and Hawkes clarinet | 6/7/2011 | ModernFlute |
| Q: I have a clarinet that is at least 40 years old, a Boosey and Hawkes Edgware, made of wood with a ... A: According to eBay search results your clarinet's worth $100-200 (which is what someone would be ... | ||
| soprano saxophone | 5/30/2011 | ModernFlute |
| Q: What key is the soprano saxophone. I figured C, is that correct? are they hard to play? Is the ... A: The traditional soprano saxophone, found in most music stores, is in the key of Bb which is the same ... | ||
| The Buescher Baritone | 5/30/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I had a buescher baritone give to me (from Elkhart Ind.) serial number 272633 can you give me about ... A: Your horn dates to 1935. The three most likely problems with the valves would be 1) the pistons are ... | ||
| Fischer trombone | 5/28/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a "Carl Fisher's Artist Model New York" (on the bell) trombone. It doesn't have a serial # ... A: No, neither is unusual. We tend to think of serial numbers as a way to date instruments, but that ... | ||
| Fischer trombone | 5/26/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I have a "Carl Fisher's Artist Model New York" (on the bell) trombone. It doesn't have a serial # ... A: Back when this horn was made, trombones used a short shank mouthpiece. You will need to scour eBay ... | ||
| Ditson Eb helicon | 5/25/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I've just become the owner of a Oliver Ditsen "New Century" Eb helicon. Nice horn, plays pretty ... A: Ditson imported his instruments from a variety of makers. About the only way to estimate age would ... | ||
| J. GRAS BUGLE Made in France | 5/18/2011 | Kenton Scott |
| Q: I received a vintage brass bugle with the following stamped on the horn: 'JG'(Insignia) Brevete ... A: I don't have any answers for you, but a couple of comments. Brevette - means patented. A number ... | ||
| metal clarinet | 5/9/2011 | ModernFlute |
| Q: I recently bought a Cundy-Bettoney metal Cadet clarinet. serial # A 41393 Patent # 1705634 at an ... A: the Cadet model by the Cundy-Bettoney company is their student line. It's a plated finish (either ... | ||
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Antique Musical Instruments
Answers by Expert:
Kenton Scott
Top Expert on this page
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.
Experience
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
Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.
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