nanachun

I need info on Trumpet/Cornet inscribed on bell is Pan American Elkhart Indiana, USA - My Father died 8/09, Stepmom gave it to me. Dad played in band 1938-1940 and while in Army. Step Mom is antique dealer and I am not sure it is Dad's as she had several. I am trying to find out the age of this trumpet/cornet. There is a six digit number beginning with 118XXX engraved. Of course it would not be sold.

Annie

Please don't publish your serial number online - it's a big safety issue! If someone gets a hold of the number, they could potentially say the instrument belongs to them.

I did a quick search and the instrument was made in 1924 according to the serial number you gave and this website: The Conn Loyalist

__________________
~Annie

*I may not be great yet, but I'm working hard on it and one day I'm gonna be there.*

ChaseFan

That is from 1937 according to the serial number list at Conn Loyalist at
The Conn Loyalist

Pan American was a lower-priced line produced by Conn,
but they were made well.

This page at Conn Loyalist contains links to photos of various Pan American trumpets and cornets for you to compare to your instrument
The Conn Loyalist

Dean

nanachun

Thanks this is most helpful. Also about the serial number. Good point...

Indian

Don't think that a student horn from the 1930s is the same as a student horn today. The Pan Americans of this era were well made horns made by an industry leader, Conn. Many Pros played Conns. The Pan Americans were very similar to the normal Conn model lines. Some of them had a very nice engraving of a spread eagle on the bell. The Pan Americans from this era are very nice, you have a great horn and super keep sake enjoy and treasure it.

__________________
Rob,
King Liberty SilverTone (3)
King Liberty (7) Super 20 (2)
Conn Vocabell 40A - 40B - 80A (6) - 81A (1) - 38A Victor (2) - 22B - 16B, 12B Coprion bell
Getzen Tone Balanced Super Deluxe
Holton French LeBlanc (1) - Al Hirt 550
Olds Studio (1) - Special (1)

nanachun

Dean,
I have a newspaper clipping in my Daddy's stuff where he and a female played in 1940 during a dinstinguisted swing orchestra at a concert. My sister who is 4 years older than I said our Daddy played the cornet all 4 years during HS and he graduated in 1940. It had an embosed brown case with red velvet lining as she and I both remember. But my stepmother does not know anything else about it. I just wanted to know if it was in fact my Daddy's and their are no other living relatives. Thank you for your comments. It does have a spread eagle on the bell. It plays well as our minister of music also plays a trumpet but it looks terrible. Do you have any idea how I might get the orange discoloration off the bell? Or should I leave it alone?

nanachun

Rob,
I sent you a reply back but I do not know if I did it correctly. I am new at this. I told you that my Daddy played in all 4 years in the HS band. I have a newpaper clipping where he and a female played in 1940 for a dinstinguised swing orchestra at a concert. My sister & I remember he had a brown embossed case lined in red velvet. My stepmother does not know anything about that. I was just wanting to know that the cornet was for sure Daddy's since she had several. She deals in antiques. The cornet does have the engraved spread eagle on the bell. Do you have any idea how I could remove the orange oxidation due to age and not proper care? Or should I leave it alone. Our minister of music is a trumpet player and he oiled it and it plays very well considering the age.

rbdeli

I think it's okay to post the first 3 numbers of the serial number.
Like, 909XXX.

__________________
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Indian

Glad to hear you are finding out more information on the horn. I have always liked the Spread Eagle engraving. You questions about the orange oxidation can be difficult. Conn made pure copper bells that were electroplated directly on a form and were seamless and are very actively pursued by collectors. These bells are referred to as "Coprion Bells". They have a natural orange copper appearance. I do not know if your bell is a Coprion bell. If so the orange color could be normal. If it is a brass bell the horn is probably lacquered for protection. As lacquer ages it darkens to an orangish or deep honey color naturally. I would not recommend doing anything to remove the lacquer. Vintage horns with original lacquer are worth more even if the lacquer is worn. We can give you some better answers if you could post a couple picturs of the horn. Or you could take the horn to a music store that specializes in brass instruments and ask them. It would also probably be a good idea to have the horn cleaned if you haven't done so already or if you don't know how. I hope this helps.

PS: I did not get your message.

__________________
Rob,
King Liberty SilverTone (3)
King Liberty (7) Super 20 (2)
Conn Vocabell 40A - 40B - 80A (6) - 81A (1) - 38A Victor (2) - 22B - 16B, 12B Coprion bell
Getzen Tone Balanced Super Deluxe
Holton French LeBlanc (1) - Al Hirt 550
Olds Studio (1) - Special (1)