Jude

Definitely! - if I were a collector...

Get thee behind me, Satan! I'm going back to my long tones. Immediately. And stay there for a good long while.

Dale Proctor

Here's a link to an old B&F catalog. The trumpet in question isn't in there, but the cover has the same logo as the bell of the trumpet.

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/books/B&...og%20pages.pdf

__________________
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Olde Towne Brass
www.otbrass.com

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www.brassbandofhuntsville.org

Daniel10

Thank you very much! That part of the mystery is solved then. :)

I wonder about the age of the instrument.

misty.sj

Does the hexagonal bell mean that it was not a model meant to be played then? A prototype?

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--Misty
Hit it hard, and wish it well. -- Claude Gordon

1925(?) Conn Cavalier Bb (s/n 14142)
2007 Barrington Bb student trumpet

Daniel10

Yeah, thanks. I just found it via another page aswell.

Jude

Is there any country of origin indicated, maybe on the leadpipe? It really looks older than the early 1950s that it would probably be if the owners had tried to continue production in Paris - maybe Paris is a model name? The area that is now the Czech Republic changed its official name quite frequently there for a while, so finding that it was made in Austria or Bohemia or Czechoslovakia could narrow down its date of manufacture quite a bit.

Daniel10

Yes, it looks rather old, older than 1950s if I would have guessed too.

There are two markings on the leadpipe. Perhaps someone with a keener eye and more experience can see what it is? Guessing a C and a +-sign? C would make sense if they marked their instruments simply with C for Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia. As for the cryptic +-like sign...



As for the age, it is most probably more recent than 1901. Why? Since it has pearl inlay on top of the valve keys, and uses cloth, rather than corque. I found that out at horn-u-copia. (The keys may have been changed, but probably made after 1901.) So where are we now? Made 1901-1950's? Quite a range... :)

A prototype not meant to be played? Maybe. However, the instrument is in working order and has been really well played since the hand of the trumpeter has worn down the plaque on some places.

The bells octagonal shape remains a mystery.

Jude

I don't know how to embed images, but there's a picture of a modern octagonal bell at Taylor Trumpets (with Art Deco engraving). The shape was originally intended, they say, to imitate a gramophone horn.

And a description of a similar horn by another maker in the same city Graslitz (German)=Kraslice (Czech):

Trumpet in silver plated brass, signed "ARIGRA" made by Anton Riedl in Graslitz c.1930. Bell diameter 11.5cm. Part of the bell flare octagonal, engraved and with beaten decoration, engraved inside the bell, the exterior of the valves sexagonal. In old hard case with aluminium mute.
In quite good condition, the plating worn in parts, two tuning slides do not slide, one insert in finger touch not original. To be playable needs an overhaul. An interesting example of an "Art Deco" trumpet. " (Tony Bingham - Musical Instruments - Brasswind)

Getting closer...

That first symbol looks like an "O" made with a bad stamp - "octagonal" maybe?

Daniel10

Yeah thanks! :) So that's the story behind the octagonal shape. That's a relief to finally find out.

So it might be that our trumpet aswell is from the 1930's.

It might be an "O". If it is an O, the meaning "octagonal" would indeed make sense.

Toobz

Jude, you're doing some solid research. Interesting stuff !
I was thinking 30's and your post mentioned art deco, so that reinforces my thought.
Cool horn. Wanna trade ?

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Conn 10B New Era trumpet
Martin Committee cornet
And lots of other old and smelly stuff !