Expert: Kenton Scott - 8/15/2006

Question
that is a very vague answer. It says olds by the mouthpeice and even if it is columbia what does that mean I know nothing about instruments. It has to be 1923 it is stamped into the metal on all the pieces.  thank you
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Followup To

Question -
I have an  Olds Trombone 1923, It appears to be silver on the outside and I think maybe brass inside but I could be wrong I am not very good with different metals. It is very beautiful it has flowers on vines with leaves engraved on it from the bottom of the horn all the way to where it connects to the U shaped piece. On the front Columbia patented Harry B. Jay Co. Chicago is engraved. On the mouth piece it has Olds with a 3 under it and below that is a capital J with a small c on top of the J. below that is 1923 it also has 1923 on all the parts. It has a few little dings and a couple places where the silver is worn off. I would like to know the value of this trombone.

Answer -
Sounds to me like you have a Columbia trombone made by the Jay Co.  not an Olds.  I can't explain the 1923 on all the parts.

Answer
Sorry if I was vague.  I was clear to me <g>  Guess I'm going to have to quit talking to myself.  

Olds and Jay are two different companies.  Columbia was a trade - or brand  - name used by the Jay Company.  

If 1923 is on the mouthpiece as well as on the instrument, then I would think that it is an ID number put on aftermarket.  Otherwise, I imagine it is a serial number.  

I wouldn't attempt to value the instrument without personally seeing it.  But, you could watch similar horns on eBay to get a general idea as to its value.