forkenhimer

I picked up a trumpet at a pawn show that i was hoping to find some info on. it looks very old(no lacquer) but it has no dents and the valves are in perfect condition. it has very thin pipes and it came with an equally as old 10 1/2 c mouthpiece(stuck, which i removed). it has no serial number, just Gretsch American Junior on the bell. if anyone has any info that would be awesome.

MFfan

Is there any more info on the Bell? You can go to Horn-u-copia to the Gretsch thread for some info. Gretsch was a major musical retailer for many years and used to sell horns of many types from many manufacturers , stenciled with their name and whatever model on it. Generally student horns. I used to have a Gretsch Pathfinder long cornet and you can see the comments on the Trumpets sub thread. There also was a New Yorker and a President and American cornet pictured in the Cornet thread. Never heard of the Junior. Maybe you could post some pics? Maybe impossible to identify the actual maker, though. Just noticed a photo of an American Junior cornet on pg 2. serial 2827, believed to have been made by Wm Frank. Sort of looks like a trumpet, but a common design of the period LONG gone by. I suspect it would take a cornet mp, as did my Pathfinder, although mine looked like a trumpet in most respects.

PhatLips

I have two, a President and a Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is my favorite "knock about" horn. They are sturdy and well made, good for student horns. The lacquer on both is mostly worn off. I replaced the corks, felts and springs. I think they may have been made by Couesnon.

MFfan

Yes, my Pathfinder was built like a tank also, didn't have to do any work on it, but the sound turned out not to fit in as well as my other horns with the groups I play in and was kind of thin, but was easy to play. As you say, ok student horn.

forkenhimer

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yeah it uses a normal trumpet mouthpiece. there is no other writing on the instrument besides the numbers on the valve casings.
sorry about the picture being reversed but you get the idea. do you have any idea about how old it is?

MFfan

I would say '20's from the general appearance, , maybe teens or 30's. Is the wrap narrower than normal trumpet? Can't tell from your hand size. If so, could be a "peashooter". If you could, I am sure Kenton, the Horn-u-copia moderator would be glad to post photos of the Junior in the Trumpet thread of Gretsch. Of course , reverse the photos You can get his addy from the "members" button. He needs to post them. Don't know why they had a Junior cornet and trumpet line.