ifixhorns

Hello! This is my first time posting to this site, so I hope there is someone out there that can help me out.

I am a repair tech at a music store and we had someone bring in a vintage Buescher TrueTone trumpet. The serial number is 251896. It is satin silver and has a gold washed bell, and gold plated engravings. The bell itself says "The Buescher" on it. It also has what I call a "double main tuning slide". It is like the main tuning slide is made in two pieces so you can do more fine tuning.

Is there anyone out there that may have an idea about value of this instrument?

zoundz

These are interesting, albeit not extremely valuable horns. The bore is about .448 and the bell taper is very tight. They sell in the $200-$400 range on eBay usually, depending on condition. The double slide allows you to tune the horn in Bb and then pull the big slide to the stop (there should be a stop) to grab A tuning. The valve slides should have scribe marks for the A tuning. I have one of these horns from 1923 and it's a delightful, old jazzy player. It's damn near impossible to find mutes for it, tho, because of the bell taper.

ifixhorns

Thank you very much for the info. Yes, there was a tuning stop on the main tuning slide.

Luckily the people have the original mutes for the horn, so that wont be a problem. The main problem I am facing with the customers is convincing them that a horn like this has no business being in the hands of a beginning player. It is a family heirloom and I understand their want to pass it on, but I think it would be more apropriate for use once the kid has developed some chops (and responsibility), dont you think? It is a neat old horn in very fine shape. As a repair tech I have seen the amazing things kids do to horns

Thanks again for your info. I am looking forward to at least cleaning the horn up for them and making them smile.

rowuk

I also got a heirloom as my first instrument. A 1911 Holton Herbert Clarke Model long cornet. My parents made sure that I understood how "valuable" this instrument was - no disasters. I still play this instrument on occasion today.
With that smaller bore and tighter bell taper, a beginner could just maybe have an easier time than with a new instrument. Sell them a new mouthpiece though. A 7 C with fresh, smooth silver plate will probably be a better start than what came with the horn. Probably more compatable with whatever comes next too!

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zoundz

I totally agree with that. The Buescher is an interesting sounding horn and a treat to play, but it has no place in a student environment. It has no 3rd slide ring, which any beginner should be learning how to use, it is kinda funny shaped and it is almost not slotty at all, which makes intonation a matter for the player. There are many wonderful used horns available that would undoubtedly suit him better. A vintage Olds Ambassador, for instance, is probably the best student horn ever made (in some people's opinion, anyway) and can be had for under $400 almost any day of the week.

Just my $.02

Jerry48

Lately I am getting very interested in reading about othe vintage trumpets out there. In 1965 I was given a King Silvertone trumpet (with sterlling silver bell) to replace my old $100 trumpet that a relative's friend had crushed the bell of. I played in the school band, beginning in the sixth grade. When i got this horn I was or about to begin my freshman year of high school and played with the high school marching band.
Just before beginning my junior year of high school, I quit the trumpet, and didn't pick it up until long after I had finished a tour with the U.S. Nvy and started a family. Over the course of the next twnty years or so, I took out my trumpet and began practicing for awhile, then got too busy with family and work, and put it back away. Sometimes it would be after hearing a band performing during a local parade that would inspire me to try to pick up the horn again.
In 1994, I had my trumpet refurbished and polished and started praticing again. I even hooked up with a local community band and performed at a few concerts with them. Was really enjoying myself, but after a couple months had to take a day job, that prevented me from practicing with the band.
Lately I've begun to realize what I have been missing, and made up my mind that I need to get hooked with a band again, and start performing on a regular basis. Have a more flexible work schedule now.
I have also found out, through research, that my KING SILVERTONE was actually made in 1946. One of my sisters bought it for me in 1963 or '64. As I recall the day I got it, it was in such good condition, that I thought it was brand new then.
I have been reading posts about sympony orchestra trumpet players and the trumpets they play, and just wondering if anyone ever played a King Silvertone in an orchestra.
I watched a live performance of a famous sypmony orcestra on TV recently, and really enjoyed it. Never did that before. Was particularly interested in watching the only two trumpet players in the orchestra perform, but the whole group was fantastic.
I don't know if I'll ever get good enough to play in an orchestra. I never made it to my third year of playing with the high school band, and only lately have began practicing again. I'm looking for another band to join --- apparently the community band I played with in '94 isn't around anymore.
any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Jimnopidy

I I have just aquired a vintage Besson 'Stratford' and would like to date it. (not had much luck with the girls !!!)

Bought it on a whim from E bay (ridiculusly low price) it looked like my French Besson in the photo [forward facing 2nd valve slide) and it plays like a dream.
Anyone any info on the model ? serial no.445016.

MFfan

You didn't say whether a trumpet or cornet. Stratford was a model made by the Besson (England) maker, for students, I believe in America. They turn up on Ebay fairly often. I have a Besson 8-10 cornet and trumpet which are similar. If the serial number runs with other Besson models, it may have been made around 1968, per Lars Kirmers list on Horntrader. They are good playing horns. Maybe a . 46 bore,like the 8-10's per Horn-u-copia.net . Exact info is hard to come by. Dave

oldlou

I have been reading posts about sympony orchestra trumpet players and the trumpets they play, and just wondering if anyone ever played a King Silvertone in an orchestra.


Go to HTTP.WWW// H.N.White.com. for more info than you can absorb at one reading about the King instruments. What you have is a newer version of what I went through school with. Mine was stolen from the closet in my BOQ room at San Diego Naval Hospital, where I was stationed at the time. The solid sterling silver bell on the King Liberty certainly made it a fine instrument


I watched a live performance of a famous sypmony orcestra on TV recently, and really enjoyed it. Never did that before. Was particularly interested in watching the only two trumpet players in the orchestra perform, but the whole group was fantastic.
I don't know if I'll ever get good enough to play in an orchestra. I never made it to my third year of playing with the high school band, and only lately have began practicing again. I'm looking for another band to join --- apparently the community band I played with in '94 isn't around anymore.
any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated.[/quote]


Go to your computer search engine to find a L O N G listing of community bands.


OLDLOU>>

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