Kinda pulling this one out of the graveyard, but...
Yesterday while going through the instrument room at CU (Yes, I am a nosy, nosy person), I came upon a very, VERY pristine, clear lacquer horn. Other than one dent, one ding, and a place where someone re-soldered the 3rd slide brace, the horn was cosmetically perfect.
Well, after oiling the valves (The valves are very different, they jump right out after you unthread the top cap), I decided to test it in concert band. It performed admirably, and I would actually put it as better than my Olds Ambassador! It is a Couesnon Lafayette, but thats all I can tell about it, lol. The only markings on the horn are the Lafayette sign on the bell, and the numbered valves. I know that this was the first trumpet ever given to CU, and it was given about ten years ago, from a player who had a bad abnormality in his lips. He babied this horn, which something I REALLY REALLY REALLY like in older horns...
Just had to say the horn is VERY nice, and I would actually put it playing wise as the best of the vintage student horns (Even above the vaunted Ambassador and Collegiate). It does feel very resistant in the register past high G, and the valve action isnt quite as smooth as I like, but the sound is top-notch, real soft and cuddly, but can bite if pushed.
I wonder if anyone's ever modified a Lafayette before? I'd have Kanstul reverse the 3rd, install Blackburn 20 pipe, amado on the 3rd, finger rings for the 3rd and 1st. Valve align/cleaning. New scratch silver...
Van