AboutMike 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.
Question Hello, my husband and I were recently at a goodwill store and picked up an old Holton Trumpet for 75 dollars. We both graduated from college with music degrees and my husband knows a lot about horns, however this horn has us stumped. The serial number is 127254, which by lists means it was about 1910. It looks like it has a two piece bell because of the light line going around the horn. It also has silver plated valve casings. The last things he noticed is that the lead pipe is reversed for tuning slide. There is no special engravings on the horn besides on the bell it shows Frank Holton, Elkhorn Wis USA. These make us think that this is a little more special then a student horn, however we're not sure. The original sales receipt was still in the case, a gentleman bought the horn in 1940 for 85 dollars, I'm not sure if that means anything. Any information you could give us would be wonderful, either way it sounds like a great lead horn and my husband seems to like it.
Answer Michelle, The horn is definitely a pro model. You must have looked at a bad list because the serial number dates the horn to 1939. It sounds like a Revelation model but I can't be sure without seeing it. The reversed lead pipe was a great move for Holton and gave the horn a more free blow. The valve casing should be nickel and not just silver plate. There used to be a Holton Loyalist website but it has said it is in construction for a few years now. So info on the older horns is tough to come by. As long as he likes it then you got a great deal. The horn is a collector and would be worth several hundred dollars if it is in good shape.
