Veldkamp

Okay, then I got the wrong info.

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www.erikveldkamp.com
http://trumpetkings.blogspot.com

Tootsall

Forgot another custom trumpet maker who builds his own valves: Denis Wedgwood: For info on his valves AND on Saturn Water Keys check out
http://www.deniswedgwood.com/

bigaggietrumpet

Seems like I remember hearing that they used Getzen's, but I'm not 100% on that one.

__________________
Michael Smith
Hullabaloo: The official band of Texas A&M Basketball
Kanstul 1537/ Schilke 14
LA Olds Studio

Tootsall

In this talk about valves, let's not forget that there is no reason why a valve maker couldn't not produce valves with different designs/characteristics for different "customers"! After all, the primary element is the piston body itself but the upper cage/spring/guide assembly can be different, the valve casing can be different (one part, two part, extended) so suit the instrument that the valve will be applied to (flugel, cornet, trumpet).

The piston body would have to have the internal ports aligned differently to suite the exterior "plumbing". The key element will be the production machinery necessary to form (cut, shape, solder, grind, hone) the piston; cut the threads for the cage attachment and top cap, etc.

With all of these variables it would be entirely possible (and highly probable) that someone making valves for other firms could be cranking out a half dozen different "designs". And that's just for the Bb family! Add on the need to produce valves of entirely different size/layout for low brass and marching brass and you can just imagine how "busy" a place like Kanstul must be (and how much "fun" to keep all the little bits in the right places!)

Here's a great series of pictures showing the construction steps for a valve piston. Thanks to the Henri Selmer website at http://www.selmer.fr/index.htm



Fiddley little things, aren't they? :)