Expert: Kenton Scott - 6/3/2005

Question
I have an old coronet made by the Cleveland Musical Instrument Company of Cleveland Ohio. On the horn it has the engraving, American Standard High Grade. It was given to me by an older gentlemen in Welches Oregon about 15 years ago. He was in his seventies then, and he had gotten the instrument to play in high school. Do you have any idea what its value might be? It is in very good condition, no dents, and has the music holder attachment with it.
Thand you

Answer
Hi Jean,

They do get confusing with those old names!  Well here it goes.  American Standard and Cleveland were names used by the White company.  The White company called their first line of instruments King.  (King was a noted trombone player who was also part of the company).  Their second line of intruments were called Cleveland and American Standard.  

I have an American Standard trumpet here, and it says H.N.White Company, Cleveland, OH.

Cleveland was originally a separate company formed in 1920, but it was bought by White in 1925.  But White didn't start using the American Standard tradename until 1940.  

I don't know of a serial number listing for American Standard.  The American Standards were numbered differently than the Cleveland.  In 1940, Clevelands were in the 40,000's.  My American Standard is a 21,266, and it has to be no older than 1940.  

Let's see your gentleman was in high school in the late 40's- early 50's.  So, that pretty much narrows down the age of the horn to 1940-1951.

As to its value, it is probably a better instrument than what its value is.  I would suspect it would get $20-50 on eBay.  If you try to sell it on eBay, you will want to do good photography and presentation.  It will need to look like something that is more than the run of the mill.  The fact that it is  in pristine condition will help.



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