screamingmorris

What year is your 22B according to the serial number list at
The Conn Loyalist ?

That looks virtually identical to the 1952 model I bought in eBay but which hasn't arrive yet:
eBay: Antique Working C.G. Conn Ltd. Brass Trumpet +Case&More (item 260124047793 end time Jun-06-07 18:57:10 PDT)

brunets

According to the Conn Loyalist, it is a late 1948 trumpet. You had yours for a good price!

Mine was bought in a local shop in Montreal. I find now that it was overpriced but I had no clue on how to buy vintage trumpets on EBay at that time.

Dale Proctor

If you really like it, and don't already have too much in it, and the valves are good, and there aren't any issues other than the lacquer and the crack, I see nothing wrong with having it repaired. Whether you go with a relacquer or plating is up to you, but lacquer will be cheaper. If you have it done at a place that can tint lacquer, you could maintain that "vintage" look.

oldlou

Since that crack is just in a sleeve it should be a simple and inexpensive repair to replace that cracked part. Go for it.


OLDLOU>>

brunets

Thanks for your suggestions. I will definitely get it repaired. Then I will decided whether or not refinish it.

What do you think about dealing directly with a electroplating company for silver plating, provided that I do the complete cleaning/buffing job ?

Dale Proctor

If you go through a repair service, their discount with a plating company plus markup may be cheaper than the price you can get by going direct. I'd check into it first.

brunets

Thanks for all your suggestions... I'll keep you informed on this refinishing project if I go for it.

screamingmorris

Each person has different preferences on what looks best on his trumpet.

My personal preference is to restore to original appearance, so I will be doing lacquer.
If yours were re-lacquered it would look like the 1948 22B that the owner of the Conn Loyalist Web site has at
The Conn Loyalist

Some of the vintage Conns came in optional silverplate, and the 22B might have been one of them.

BTW, I got my 1952 cheap because not only is the lacquer in really bad shape, but I will have to un-freeze the 3 smaller slides and have 2 very small dents removed.
And I don't know yet what the valves are like; for all I know they might be worn with bad compression.

It is my impression from reading other people's comments, including those of Christine who owns the Conn Loyalist Web site, that the 1940's 22B's like yours were the best 22B's.
Read what Christine says in "In October 2006..." at
The Conn Loyalist
So I am envious that yours is a 1948 while mine is a 1952.
If you want to trade...

- morris

brunets

Part of myself told me I had an exceptional instrument but a bunch of people made me believe the contrary. They didn't believe me when I said that it was the player's (my) fault...

Three days ago, during my trumpet lessons, I did my first really beautiful concert Bb scale, with a rich and pure piano sound. I couldn't even believe it so that I forgot which valves to push for the next notes. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to reproduce it afterwards. But that's the player's fault not the trumpet's.

I agree with you to refinish the trumpet in its original appearance. However, I don't know if I can have a really good "vintage" lacquer done in Montreal, have no money to send it to USA for that, and I tend to believe that silver plating is more durable. I found electroplating companies in Montreal who do their plating jobs according to US military standards...

Stéphane

screamingmorris

The Conn Loyalist
has a photo of a 1924 22B with extra engraving that is *gold* plated but the photo is washed out enough that it almost looks like silver.
Comparing some of the outside of the trumpet (such as the valve casing) with the inside of the bell I wonder if parts of the outside are some kind of matte or satin plating rather than highly polished.

- morris