Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/9/2006

Question
I have an valve trombone marked lyon&Healy
Beau ideal  Chicago
It came in what I have been told is a civil war coffin case, the case is lined in a velvet sort of fabric. and wooden it also had a music folder marked 2d Bb Tenor. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Lyon and Healy was a very prolific instrument company starting in 1864.  And, I don't have any dates, but I believe that the use of Tradenames such as Beau Ideal came later.  

And, who might have actually made you horn is also a mystery as most of the instruments sold by L&H were not manufacturerd by them.  

The coffin style case certainly was a style used during the Civil War, but if it is of that vintage, it is unlikely that it is original to your trombone.  The Beau Ideal valve trombones I have seen, are short and stubby with the valve section not extending beyond the bell.  If yours is of that style, it might be possible for it to fit in a tenor saxhorn case.

The 2nd Bb Tenor music you have is most liklely for the 2nd tenor saxhorn in a 19th century brass band.  And that could also be as old as the Civil War as they used that designation then.  But, then they used that designation for quite a while after the Civil War besides.  About the only way to hazard a guess on the music would be to check the music titles, and any other descriptions on the music to see if its age could be estimated.