Please help
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Please help with identifying this trumpet. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
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@Alex-Otis
I'm not an expert, but it sure resembles the Conn 22b New York Symphony circa 1920s. Here's a link to the Conn Loyalist, and a sample picture from trumpet-history.com:https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn22B1924image.html
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Yes, looks like a Conn 22B (or a different bore Conn variant) to me too. This is the 1929 Conn 22B I used to own.
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It looks like a Conn 22B. Note, however, that the case says 1000B. So, I don't know.
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@administrator said in Please help:
It looks like a Conn 22B. Note, however, that the case says 1000B. So, I don't know.
I’m sure that’s not a 1000B trumpet, which was a 1970s or 1980s “Doc Severinsen” student model. I suppose it was just a case procured to replace the nasty original one.
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Whats up with the upside-down water key in foto #1?
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@robertwerntz said in Please help:
Whats up with the upside-down water key in foto #1?
Tuning slide is in upside down…lol
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@Alex-Otis This is definitely a gold-plated 1929 Conn 22B (New York Symphony model.) It's a great horn, IF the valves are still in good condition, and if the compression is also still good. I can tell the year by the serial number (and, before I looked up the serial number, I knew that it had to be from either 1928 or 1929 because the 22B trumpets made before that in the '20s did not have a right hand pinky ring. The fact that it is gold-plated, along with the fancy Stenberg engraving that goes all the way up the bell flare tells me that this was a "top-of-the line" model, and the original owner paid extra for those optional upgrades. Underneath the gold-plated bell is standard yellow brass, which sounds great (for most people's tastes, at least.) It has a 0.438" bore, also known as the Conn #1 bore. This is a very versatile horn, and makes a great lead trumpet or commercial trumpet, but it also works well in symphony orchestras, concert bands, chamber music, etc. Using a "lead trumpet mouthpiece" on it will brighten the sound up nicely, and will make it even more efficient (a GREAT lead horn.) And, a "legit" or "symphonic" mouthpiece (one that is deeper, with a more symphonic backbore, etc.) easily turns it into a great symphony/classical/legit horn, as the name "New York Symphony" implies. These instruments were used in all of the major symphony orchestras in the United states up until maybe about 1950 (?) or so, when Bach trumpets began to gain favor with most orchestra players. But, this instrument can blend very well and fit into a trumpet section in which the other trumpet players are using Bach or Yamaha symphony model trumpets.
By the way, don't let the model number on the case fool you: This is not the original case, and is a Conn trumpet case made many decades later. The original case was probably either broken or got lost, thus the newer Conn case replacement.
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Word to the wise
On a conn of this quality and this age I would pay attention to protecting the lead pipe from red rot.
I dont think this instrument is suffering from this ailment at the moment but conns are susceptible to it.
Regularly running oil down the leadpipe and regular cleaning and maintenance of this part of the instrument should keep this instrument in tip top condition and playing wonderfully for many decades to come.
