Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet

SJORDO · 10-17-2009, 06:01 PM

A student of mine brought a trumpet to me that was his Grandmother's in the 1940's. It is a very small bore, silver plated trumpet that has "Commodore Reg. U.S.P.O." engraved on the bell, along with some nice floral engraving. The horn is in perfect shape except for some stuck slides that can probably be pulled. I tried to research online but could find no info on this brand. Anybody know anything?

MFfan · 10-17-2009, 10:02 PM

I haven't heard of a Commodore, as such or find the trade name in Horn-u-copia. From my experience, I would say it was likely a stencil, maybe a "peashooter" made by a major manufacturer, here or abroad for a specific retailer to sell under that name. Can you post some photos, from Flickr, photobucket, or some web hosting service? There may be some design clues we can pick up on.

azuka · 10-31-2009, 10:43 PM

I'm curious about what you find. I just picked up a Commodore cornet at a local auction. Missing most of it's lacquer and the engraving is some sort of stamped on thing depicting a guy in uniform. On the lead pipe it is marked 'Germany.' I bought it for the Bach Mt. Vernon 10 1/2 mpce but took the horn to my trumpet playing friend who runs a repair shop. He announced to me that it was a surprisingly nice sounding horn and that I had gotten something rather nice.

I'm new to brass instruments and have played sax and clarinet for about 30 years. But I have it in my head to become modestly proficient at trumpet and cornet. We'll see how it goes.

ComeBackKid · 11-01-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azuka

...He announced to me that it was a surprisingly nice sounding horn and that I had gotten something rather nice.

I'm new to brass instruments and have played sax and clarinet for about 30 years. But I have it in my head to become modestly proficient at trumpet and cornet. We'll see how it goes.

Welcome to TM. This is the place to come to if you really want some ideas on taking up the trumpet. It will be a challenging, maddening, thrilling, frustrating, rewarding undertaking. It sounds like you have something nice to start with - so, go for it.

chesneybaker · 11-02-2009, 01:46 AM

The Martin Troubador trumpet was very popular from the 1920's into the 30's.It was nicknamed the "pea-shooter" because it was elegantly long and slim in keeping with the art-deco style of the times.It was a smaller bore trumpet and had a very bright tone,unlike the later Martin Commitee and Martin Imperial trumpets.If you would like to see and hear what this horn sounded like with a MASTER playing it go to:[url=http://www.youtube.com and click on videos,then in the search box type in Louis Armstrong Rhapsody in Black and Blue.Anyone who does this is in for a real treat!! Louis was a beautiful man and the best ambassador America ever had to the rest of the world.There will never be another like him.I love him. chesneybaker

kcmt01 · 11-02-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azuka

I'm curious about what you find. I just picked up a Commodore cornet at a local auction. Missing most of it's lacquer and the engraving is some sort of stamped on thing depicting a guy in uniform. On the lead pipe it is marked 'Germany.' I bought it for the Bach Mt. Vernon 10 1/2 mpce but took the horn to my trumpet playing friend who runs a repair shop. He announced to me that it was a surprisingly nice sounding horn and that I had gotten something rather nice.

I'm new to brass instruments and have played sax and clarinet for about 30 years. But I have it in my head to become modestly proficient at trumpet and cornet. We'll see how it goes.

Oh, I'm sure it's not worth anything, really. But I'm willing to take it off your hands for a couple of bucks. JUST KIDDING DROOL DROOL DROOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

MFfan · 11-02-2009, 09:15 AM

[quote=chesneybaker;462568]The Martin Commodore trumpet was very popular from the 1920's into the 30's.It was nicknamed the "pea-shooter" because it was elegantly long and slim in keeping with the art-deco style of the times.It was a smaller bore trumpet and had a very bright tone,unlike the later Martin Commitee and Martin Imperial trumpets.If you would like to see and hear what this horn sounded like with a MASTER playing it go to:[url=http://www.youtube.com and click on videos,then in the search box type in Louis Armstrong Rhapsody in Black and Blue.Anyone who does this is in for a real treat!! Louis was a beautiful man and the best ambassador America ever had to the rest of the world.There will never be another like him.I love him. chesneybaker[/quote]

This would be interesting information for Horn-u-copia to have, if accurate. There is no mention of an early "The Martin" company model named Commodore, or on their tradename list. Maybe the owners of these instruments would give that consideration to adding to the research data bases there to aid future inquiries by others? I also had no idea Martin had any horns made in Germany. Could you cite any info that these Commodores were Martin instruments? However, I did see there was a Troubador "peashooter" model in the "20's, per Dallas Gearhead. Incidentally, there is a " Vintage Trubador" trumpet on Shopgoodwill due to end in a few hours has low bids. Don't know if that is the Martin one or not.

chesneybaker · 11-05-2009, 05:09 AM

I stand corrected.My memory is not what it once used to be.The horn in question is not a Martin Commodore(they never made a "Commodore")but is the Martin Troubador.This is the "pea-shooter" I was talking about that Lois Armstrong plays in the youtube video "Rhapsody in Black and Blue".Most of them were intricately engraved and were beautiful looking horns.Every once in a while you can find one on Ebay for sale.Mea culpa.

MFfan · 11-05-2009, 08:33 AM

Glad to work on this. I had forgotten about the Troubador model until I looked up that article. That Louie Armstrong movie clip was interesting on a number of levels! He sure did play the heck out of that small bore horn.

oldlou · 11-05-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFfan

This would be interesting information for Horn-u-copia to have, if accurate. There is no mention of an early "The Martin" company model named Commodore, or on their tradename list. Maybe the owners of these instruments would give that consideration to adding to the research data bases there to aid future inquiries by others? I also had no idea Martin had any horns made in Germany. Could you cite any info that these Commodores were Martin instruments? However, I did see there was a Troubador "peashooter" model in the "20's, per Dallas Gearhead. Incidentally, there is a " Vintage Trubador" trumpet on Shopgoodwill due to end in a few hours has low bids. Don't know if that is the Martin one or not.

Per the Germanic connection of the Martin Bros. . Old John York imported them from Germany to work here in Grand Rapids at his plant. They then went on to Chicago to form their own instrument making plant there.

OLDLOU>>

10-17-2009, 06:01 PM	#1
SJORDO New Friend Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Port Jefferson, NY Posts: 10	Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet A student of mine brought a trumpet to me that was his Grandmother's in the 1940's. It is a very small bore, silver plated trumpet that has "Commodore Reg. U.S.P.O." engraved on the bell, along with some nice floral engraving. The horn is in perfect shape except for some stuck slides that can probably be pulled. I tried to research online but could find no info on this brand. Anybody know anything?

10-17-2009, 10:02 PM	#2
MFfan Forte User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 1,690	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet I haven't heard of a Commodore, as such or find the trade name in Horn-u-copia. From my experience, I would say it was likely a stencil, maybe a "peashooter" made by a major manufacturer, here or abroad for a specific retailer to sell under that name. Can you post some photos, from Flickr, photobucket, or some web hosting service? There may be some design clues we can pick up on. __________________ Dave Rafferty Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?) Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan) Besson 609 Trumpet 1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet 1948 Besson cornet 1946 King Master Cornet www.kalamazooconcertband.org

10-31-2009, 10:43 PM	#3
azuka New Friend Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet I'm curious about what you find. I just picked up a Commodore cornet at a local auction. Missing most of it's lacquer and the engraving is some sort of stamped on thing depicting a guy in uniform. On the lead pipe it is marked 'Germany.' I bought it for the Bach Mt. Vernon 10 1/2 mpce but took the horn to my trumpet playing friend who runs a repair shop. He announced to me that it was a surprisingly nice sounding horn and that I had gotten something rather nice. I'm new to brass instruments and have played sax and clarinet for about 30 years. But I have it in my head to become modestly proficient at trumpet and cornet. We'll see how it goes.

11-02-2009, 01:46 AM	#5
chesneybaker New Friend Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet The Martin Troubador trumpet was very popular from the 1920's into the 30's.It was nicknamed the "pea-shooter" because it was elegantly long and slim in keeping with the art-deco style of the times.It was a smaller bore trumpet and had a very bright tone,unlike the later Martin Commitee and Martin Imperial trumpets.If you would like to see and hear what this horn sounded like with a MASTER playing it go to:[url=http://www.youtube.com and click on videos,then in the search box type in Louis Armstrong Rhapsody in Black and Blue.Anyone who does this is in for a real treat!! Louis was a beautiful man and the best ambassador America ever had to the rest of the world.There will never be another like him.I love him. chesneybaker Last edited by chesneybaker; 11-05-2009 at 07:15 AM. Reason: I was in error.Troubador not Commodore

11-02-2009, 09:15 AM	#7
MFfan Forte User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 1,690	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet [quote=chesneybaker;462568]The Martin Commodore trumpet was very popular from the 1920's into the 30's.It was nicknamed the "pea-shooter" because it was elegantly long and slim in keeping with the art-deco style of the times.It was a smaller bore trumpet and had a very bright tone,unlike the later Martin Commitee and Martin Imperial trumpets.If you would like to see and hear what this horn sounded like with a MASTER playing it go to:[url=http://www.youtube.com and click on videos,then in the search box type in Louis Armstrong Rhapsody in Black and Blue.Anyone who does this is in for a real treat!! Louis was a beautiful man and the best ambassador America ever had to the rest of the world.There will never be another like him.I love him. chesneybaker[/quote] This would be interesting information for Horn-u-copia to have, if accurate. There is no mention of an early "The Martin" company model named Commodore, or on their tradename list. Maybe the owners of these instruments would give that consideration to adding to the research data bases there to aid future inquiries by others? I also had no idea Martin had any horns made in Germany. Could you cite any info that these Commodores were Martin instruments? However, I did see there was a Troubador "peashooter" model in the "20's, per Dallas Gearhead. Incidentally, there is a " Vintage Trubador" trumpet on Shopgoodwill due to end in a few hours has low bids. Don't know if that is the Martin one or not. __________________ Dave Rafferty Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?) Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan) Besson 609 Trumpet 1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet 1948 Besson cornet 1946 King Master Cornet www.kalamazooconcertband.org Last edited by MFfan; 11-02-2009 at 09:55 AM.

11-05-2009, 05:09 AM	#8
chesneybaker New Friend Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet I stand corrected.My memory is not what it once used to be.The horn in question is not a Martin Commodore(they never made a "Commodore")but is the Martin Troubador.This is the "pea-shooter" I was talking about that Lois Armstrong plays in the youtube video "Rhapsody in Black and Blue".Most of them were intricately engraved and were beautiful looking horns.Every once in a while you can find one on Ebay for sale.Mea culpa.

11-05-2009, 08:33 AM	#9
MFfan Forte User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 1,690	Re: Has anyone heard of a Commodore Trumpet Glad to work on this. I had forgotten about the Troubador model until I looked up that article. That Louie Armstrong movie clip was interesting on a number of levels! He sure did play the heck out of that small bore horn. __________________ Dave Rafferty Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?) Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan) Besson 609 Trumpet 1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet 1948 Besson cornet 1946 King Master Cornet www.kalamazooconcertband.org

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