Original_Username

I was just browsing through some trumpet sites a few days ago when I reached the site for Dr. Valve. Well, I'm surprised they have horns for sell, but it was interesting to see a 1920 Antoine Courtois Trumpet in silver plating for sale. Just wondering if anyone could give me some information on the horn.

I know Courtois is known for their Evolution models and I really like the gap regulator option (though I can only assume that it allows for versatility in genre), but I don't know a thing about their vintage trumpets.

Trumpets, Cornets, Flugelhorns, and Mouthpieces For Sale

MFfan

Go to Horn-u-copia and scroll down to the Courtois thread. There is a link to the company history and the trumpet thread has photos of several models. There is also threads for there other instruments and derivatives. High quality horns that bring high dollar when they show up on ebay.

KRax!

Did you see the bracing? Cool!!!

The valve block seem to be of the same kind as that on later Courtois trumpets. I have had one from the 60's, one from the 70's and one from the 80's and they have all been great trumpets with wonderful valves.

If I only had that kind of money now...

MFfan

I hadn't looked over the photos, KRax, what a gorgeous horn. I sure would get that over any other if I had the money. No chance, however. Thank goodness for good photography! That bracing is cool, all right!

Original_Username

I guess those trumpets really are a good buy. Too bad I'll never be able to test one though. I checked Horn-u-Copia, but they don't seem to have the model.

All of them have adjustable third slide rings, but this one only has a 1st slide ring, not a 3rd slide one (which seems odd since most intonation aids should exist on the 3rd slide).

Also, KRax, could you tell me how your horn's play?

I'm worried with one thing in vintage trumpets. That they're not consistent due to age and other issues compared to modern trumpets.

KRax!

My horns was (I have sold them all, that´s why I drool over this one) pretty different but what generally characterized them was superb intonation (if correctly valve aligned), light and fast valves and that sweet french timbre.

I have also play tested a 40's Courtois, but that was when I still was a beginner. From what I remember I thought that it was very hard to play but it had a terrific sound, warm, sweet and dark. However I do not trust my own opinions from that time as I had not enough experiance to make any comparisions and I had not yet learned to vary my blow to the blow of the horn (bore etc.).

Generally it is my view that no trumpet regardless of age is better than the guys and girls who made it, if used for its proper purpose. My trumpets from the 20's and 30's are as good as any modern ones. But, they (at least some of them) were made to sound and project in a different way and therefor they can be very tough to blend, for example, in a Yamaha based section.