mel-trumpet

Hello to the TrumpetMaster Forum,

I posted this question a week ago, with no responses, perhaps in the wrong location.
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Although I am not a new member, this is the first time that I am making a posting. Just to get through the background.
I am an amateur trumpet player, doing both concert band and orchestra work. In the distant past I played also in American Army bands. My regular equipment is an old classic "F. E. Olds & Sons Recording Trumpet, from about 1947 or 1950, which I have been playing for a very long time. Truly a great horn. I use several mouthpieces, depending upon the sound that I want to get (these are the most frequently used: 1) and main: A Stork Vacchiano Custom 1.5B+, #26 bore, with a "C" backbore, with a thin rim (this was custom made for me by the Storks) - A wonderful mouthpiece that can be played non-stop; 2) A Schilke #24, a fine very large mouthpiece that I use for a wide-variety of playing situations, including high tone work 3) Stork Vacchiano Custom #1, with a rich warm sound, approaching a cornet sound, but clearly a trumpet mouthpiece.

My question is this: My orchestral conductor gave me a couple of horns to try, later about the C Trumpet. One of them is a Boosey & Hawkes Flugehorn: Special "B" Grade, serial number: 145102. The letters LP are engraved above a logo of a hawk carrying a horn. This flugel seems to be fairly large bore and has a good sound. But it is hard to hold because of the valve arrangement. I have not been able to find much information about what Special "B" grade means.
Can anyone give me some information about this horn, its history, who typically plays a Special "B" Grade flugelhorn and where does this horn fit within the various fine flugelhorns that B&H produced, its bore size and any other useful information?

I thank anyone who as information about this model of flugelhorn.

lmf

Mel,

According to Osmun the B-Stock classification simply means:

B-stock instruments have had minor damage or cosmetic blemishes. They are brand new, in perfect working order, carry the full manufacturer's warranty and represent exceptional value.

If the flugelhorn works, don't worry.

However, when accepting a Stock B horn, you need to try it out first or have some guarantee you can return it for a full refund should it not meet your approval. You may never know how many times the B-Stock instrument has been returned, ir it may appear worse than what was described.

Best wishes,

Lloyd

mel-trumpet

Thank you for the information. However, since the phrase Special "B" Grade are actually engraved on the bell, below the serial number, using the same font types, I am not so sure that this is actually a "B" Stock instrument, or it has some other meaning. If the instrument had some manufacturing blemish, I would not image that the information would be actually engraved on the bell, along with all of the other bell markings.

Mel

lmf

Mel,

You are probably correct. The special "B" engraving means something entirely different than "B-Stock" and perhaps someone will come through with the appropriate answer.

Best wishes,

Lloyd

KRax!

As "Class A" on many old British horns means the top model, being logical a "Special B" horn ought to be the a little bit more simple.

I do not know, I just think out loud.