screamingmorris

On the tri-color Holton Super Collegiates of the late 1950's and early 1960's, what is under the nickel plating on the bell flare?
Brass or copper?

Also, I am of the tentative belief that the tri-color Holton Super Collegiates are much higher quality instruments than the Conn Directors with Coprion bells based on my limited experience.
Can anyone offer any evidence either way?
(I'm not looking to argue, I'm looking for information)

Also, does anyone know what years Holton began making those tri-colors and stopped making those tri-colors?

In case anyone does not know what a tri-color Holton Super Collegiate is, a couple of the tumpet version can be seen almost halfway down the page at
Holton Loyalist.com - Trumpets / Cornets
You can click the small photos to go to larger photos.

screamingmorris

On the tri-color Holton Super Collegiates of the late 1950's and early 1960's, what is under the nickel plating on the bell flare?
Brass or copper?

Also, I am of the tentative belief that the tri-color Holton Super Collegiates are much higher quality instruments than the Conn Directors with Coprion bells based on my limited experience.
Can anyone offer any evidence either way?
(I'm not looking to argue, I'm looking for information)

Also, does anyone know what years Holton began making those tri-colors and stopped making those tri-colors?

In case anyone does not know what a tri-color Holton Super Collegiate is, a couple of the tumpet version can be seen almost halfway down the page at
Holton Loyalist.com - Trumpets / Cornets
You can click the small photos to go to larger photos.

nieuwguyski

I suspect that's a two-piece bell, with a rose-brass stem and a nickel-silver flair. If that's the case, there is no plating on the end of the bell -- it is solid nickel silver (a copper/zinc/nickel alloy). Early Olds Studio trumpets and cornets had a similar bell construction.

screamingmorris

I own Super Collegiate trumpet and cornet, and prior to polishing and relacqering they looked like the first Super Collegiate photos at
Holton Loyalist.com - Trumpets / Cornets
the Super Collegiate that has not been refinished
(click on photos to see larger versions)
the same dark read color as seen on Conn 18B and 17B Directors with un-refinished Coprion bells.
If it is a solid nickel flare as you suggest (and I hope it is true) that would make the flare much harder and more durable than a copper flare. Copper is soft and prone to being dented easily.
I just don't have the nerve to deeply scratch either the trumpet or the cornet flare to find out for sure

Where the flare is joined to the bell I do see a tiny place where a small piece of the nickel crosses the line and fits into the copper bell, like a tiny square notch (or the copper extends into the nickel, I'm going from memory since instrument is at the shop being re-lacquered).