nordlandstrompet

Anyone that can tell anything about Boosey Class A trumpets?
Got one from a friend in India. He found it in a antique shop.

Looks like it could be 100 years old, and sounds like a castrated donkey...

Trouble with inserting it in this post, so the picture of it
is in the attachment.

Attached Images

Boosey Class A.jpg (72.5 KB, 29 views)

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nordlands

"All music is folkmusic. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song?" Louis Armstrong

Wife still says: Trumpets are expensive!

MFfan

Looks like a small bore from prior to 1930, when Boosey and Hawkes merged. Very similar to my no-name Czech small bore from the 30's? I think Boosey had horns made in Europe at some point.

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Dave Rafferty
07 Barrington Trumpet,
1972 Reynolds Medalist
55 Besson 8-10 trumpet
30's Czech trumpet
55 Roth by Reynolds Cornet; Concertone cornet
73 Olds Ambassador Cornet
Getzen 80 cornet
33 American Standard cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

nordlandstrompet

Thanks!

Difficult to read, but it seems to be stamped "H4559" or 84559" on the bell, and 33 on the second valve.

Asking Boosey&Hawkes about help about dating of instruments isn't a very good idea to use breath on.

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nordlands

"All music is folkmusic. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song?" Louis Armstrong

Wife still says: Trumpets are expensive!

nordlandstrompet

Just got the Class A back from the trumpet doctor. The horn is dated 1912, and seems to be original!
I can play it, and it sounds like an 78 rpm recording
The horn tunes at Hz 448+. My other horns tunes at 440 sharp.

Good stories about "high pitch horns"? Morris? Anyone?

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nordlands

"All music is folkmusic. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song?" Louis Armstrong

Wife still says: Trumpets are expensive!

camelbrass

nordland,

I think this is one of the infamous knock-offs that float around the market from time to time, Indian antique shops are full of them. The sound is somewhat 'unique', so is the scale.

Regards,


Trevor

nordlandstrompet

'Unique sound' is an understatement.
The scale is also another chapter. It is possible to play 'in tune' at 448,
but I have to bend the notes in all possible directions .

If this horn was 'Titanic', none would have survived.
It leaks like my wife's creditcard on sale

It seems to be worth a lot, since the value of metals has increased
rapidly the last months, I will keep it until I retire as a tax free investment.

And in the meantime get some good laughs when needed

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nordlands

"All music is folkmusic. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song?" Louis Armstrong

Wife still says: Trumpets are expensive!

MFfan

Interesting outcome! Sounds like wrestling with that horn will make you a more "flexible" player. Maybe your friend in India can pick up an Indian bugle to complement your range of playing opportunities? Fortunately, I have no friends or enemies in India, just a lot of Customer Service Representatives.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
07 Barrington Trumpet,
1972 Reynolds Medalist
55 Besson 8-10 trumpet
30's Czech trumpet
55 Roth by Reynolds Cornet; Concertone cornet
73 Olds Ambassador Cornet
Getzen 80 cornet
33 American Standard cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

nordlandstrompet

This might make a new trend!

1: Buy an Indian trumpet.(from 1912 or earlier!)
2: Learn to play it in tune.
3: Throw away all method books.
4: You will learn to use all alternative fingerings. (You have to!)
5: Your lips will be as flexible as a belly dancer. (They have to!)
6: Buy a decent horn.
7: You can now play whatever you want in whatever register you want in any style you want!
8: Go on a world tour!
9: Win the audience!
10: You will be a millionaire!

__________________
nordlands

"All music is folkmusic. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song?" Louis Armstrong

Wife still says: Trumpets are expensive!