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About Mike Pawul
Expertise
I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in five bands and have several "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 350 with more than 230 on ebay

Experience
I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done over 500 horns.

Organizations
Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band, River Cities Concert Band, University of Louisville Community Band, Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN), Bugles Across America (BAA),

Education/Credentials
I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College.

Awards and Honors
Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.

You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Musical Instruments > Trumpet > Age and Model - Buescher

Trumpet - Age and Model - Buescher

Expert: Mike Pawul - 10/29/2009

Question

Silver Buescher/Elkhar

I recently acquired 2 vintage Buescher trumpets and was unsure of the date and model of both horns. The first horn reads "Elkhart Band Instrument co." im not sure if it is a buescher because of the Serial # 1491 28. Which from what i can find puts it pre Buscher/Elkhart merger. So would it be considered an Elkhart trumpet...? It is silver with a bolt under the tuning slide, which also has a "Z" brace. It plays great. The bell is slightly smaller than normal. The leadpipe is also small/tight... trumpet mouthpiece doesn't fit right(doesn't go in all the way and not a good seal . So i tried a cornet mouthpiece to the same effect. Its the same size as my other trumpets, other than the bell. Any help on the mouthpiece issue would be great. The second horn is confusing, it also reads the same as the fore-mentioned horn but with Serial # 72709 37B. I assume that puts it somewhere about 1920-21. Its in the original Buscher case but reads "Carl Fischer Boston" In the case. Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Year made and model (pro/student)? I want to restore both but am not sure if worth it. Overhauled both, plays great. A few small dings need to work out other than that in pretty good nick. Thinking about re-plating the silver horn. I also have another Buescher, an Aristocrat....later model. Most likely student model by the Serial# being past the 1962-63 dates. Thank You for your help.

Answer
Elliot, You are correct on the first horn. It is an Elkhart from about 1924. They were pro horns before Buescher made them into student models in the mid 1930's. The taper on their mouthpieces is a bit different from modern so you need to find a period piece or have the receiver changed out. It definitely looks like a keeper though!

Your second horn is from the late 1930's after Elkhart was absorbed by Buescher. The 37B was a standard model that was produced by Buescher under their name and under the Elkhart name. The Elkhart horns at that time were student, but are more like intermediate quality. The Elkhart serial numbers are different from the Buescher though. Since no list exists it is hard to pinpoint an exact year made but the made by Buescher Elkhart horns started in the 24000 range. Carl Fischer sold a lot of horns and almost always put their name on, or in, the cases. The 37B plays pretty well but I wouldn't spend a whole lot on restoration. Taking it down to raw brass would give it more resonance and make it look better. You could use paste wax on it to keep it from tarnishing.

The later Aristocrat could be a student or intermediate level depending on the year made. It is true Buescher horns turned into student models but the Aristocrat actually made it to about 1968 as an intermediate before being changed completely over.

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