Larry wrote-
His mouthpiece was very shallow and had a cushion rim which was customary with a Charlie Allen mouthpiece. Charlie Allen was a mouthpiece maker out of Chicago that catered to the high note players.Cat told me he would have to take his piece, when on the bandstand ,out of the trumpet and put it in his coat pocket at every break or 9 times out of 10 it would be gone when he got back.
When the band was playing, he would keep a handkerchief over the piece when it was on his trumpet stand because he had so many people leaning over the trumpet section, trying to get a look at it, most times they would eventually fall on one of them ( with some drinks also). This would happen in the small venues the band played, but it became a habit with him
Wilmer added-
Those Allen mouthpieces were beautiful. They had fancy little flowers and elaborate designs on the rim.
Lamar had the first gold plated mouthpiece I had encountered.
I think they were expensive. Maybe that's why Cat and Lamar took their mouthpieces with them when leaving the bandstand
Wilmer