Best posts made by Dale Proctor

@richard-iii said in Arban’s Cornet:

@dale-proctor More photos are up now.

Yes, I saw them a little while ago. That water key on it bothers me, though.

I kept the Olds flugelhorn and Eb/D trumpet, the 3 Bachs (Bb, C, and cornet), the Conn 6B trumpet, and the 150 year old Henry Lehnert cornet. In addition to those, I now have an 1890 English Besson A/Bb/C cornet and a 1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet. I suppose that makes 9 cornets & trumpets total, plus the 3 bugles. Two of the bugles are just bookcase ornaments in the den, though - the Kanstul is the only one I ever play, and that’s just for the occasional sounding of Taps.

@administrator said in Olds Ambassador Eb Trumpet:

What a strange instrument. I would be curious to see how such a thing plays. If it's anything like my Super Recording...

I can state with certainty that it doesn’t even play as well as a Bb Olds Ambassador…lol

@J-Jericho said in Taps Across America:

@Dale-Proctor I'm glad the cancer was removed and hope that the procedure took care of the problem. I wish you a speedy and complete recovery!

Thanks! They found it early and got clean margins, so that should be all. They had to take a skin graft from my leg, though, and my leg is killing me. This too shall pass…

@J-Jericho said in WWII plastic bugle:

How does it play? Do you think that a good car wax or perhaps ceramic coating would seal the smell?

It’s a little dull sounding, but plays ok. I probably won’t play it again due to the unstable material it’s made of. I’ve read that the chemicals in them break down over the years and they can deform and/or disintegrate. This one seems to be in fine condition, so I probably won’t do anything but dust it. It’s on a shelf in the spare bedroom, and you don’t catch the smell unless you get really close to it.

“In order to prevent decay and prolong the life of Tenite materials, the US National Park Service recommends these items be stored with a "stable temperature below 68°F; stable RH between 30%-40%. Well ventilate, segregate; use gas adsorbents if stored in closed container.”

We keep the house a little warmer than that, around 73 or 74 during the day, but that will have to do…lol

@neal085 said in Horn Collection:

For our edification, can you identify each of them?

Ok, to the best of my recollection:

Top to bottom first column - Kanstul Bb field trumpet, circa 2000, U.S. Regulation field trumpet, Indian copy of a British duty bugle, circa late 1970s, Olds L-12 flugelhorn, early 1970s.

Second column - 1976 Bach Strad Bb ML 43 trumpet, 1982 Bach Strad C ML 239 trumpet, 1960 Conn 6B Victor Bb trumpet, 1925 Conn 22B Bb/A trumpet, early 1970s Olds Ambassador Eb/D trumpet.

Third column - 1993 Bach Strad L 184G Bb cornet, 1969 Conn 76A Connquest Bb cornet, 1965 Conn 5A Victor Bb cornet, circa 1870 Henry Lehnert SARV Bb cornet.

About the only thing the cold affects is the viscosity of the valve oil and slide grease. The valves and slides may be a little sluggish till the horn warms up. If there’s any moisture in the horn, it could freeze, but I wouldn’t think there would be enough of it to damage anything.

@ROWUK said in Student trumpet:

@Trumpetb, I report my first hand experience. I did not say that the importer dictated price. I said that the manufacturers have a catalog of options and that the importer can put instruments together from junk to great. The assumption that there must be a moral obligation in commerce is simply naive on your part. That is why there are laws to protect the end customer…

There’s a similar perception about Lucas electronics produced in England years ago for the automotive and motorcycle industry. The popular joke was “Lucas, prince of darkness”, because they were notoriously unreliable. However, the electronics were built to the price point required by the companies using them in their products. Lucas also built electronics for the aircraft industry, and had a reputation for high quality with those, because they were built to a much higher standard and price point. So, Lucas built products that were “just good enough” and products that were world class at the same time. The various markets dictated the quality level the factory produced.

I think most people have good and bad days. As you become more proficient, the bad days tend to be fewer and less severe, and you can compensate so the listener doesn’t really notice a drop-off.

As for diet, rest, and exercise, they’re all important to help you play better, but the effects (good or bad) are more cumulative than immediate. Being relaxed while playing goes a long way, too.

@bigdub said in A little humour:

I always wanted to express my feel for these civil servants we owe so much respect to....”THE BUILDING INSPECTOR”
By me.

...until you have to deal with one who’s a little Napoleon. I knew the codes better than he did, but it took a call to his supervisor to get him to see it my way.

Yes, prayers for a successful surgery and a full recovery.

@Dr-GO

My “regular” glasses are like that, but are set up for more medium distance in one lens, long distance in the other. I can still read without glasses, but had trouble with reading music at music stand distance, especially in low light situations. I measured what that distance typically is and went to my optometrist with glasses for that purpose in mind. I leave them in my case, and just switch them with my regular glasses before I sit down to play or practice. Fantastic!

@tmd yes Mike, I remember the similarities in our instrument choices. Great minds think alike...lol

The 184G is a sweet little cornet, and pretty, too. I ditched the too-small original case shortly after I joined a brass band and bought that Jakob Winter case in the picture. It’s really nice and has room for a K&M stand (not in the bell), 3 mutes, valve oil, music glasses, music, and mouthpieces.

@j-jericho

Yep. I usually wear a full coverage Snell approved helmet, gloves, boots, heavy jeans, and a motorcycle jacket. Not overboard protection, but I’m comfortable with it. I’ve been riding since 1966, raced motocross in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s (but was mediocre at it), and am still here, so I suppose I’m fairly decent at it by now...lol

A lot of older trumpets have a slightly longer 3rd valve slide, and you are expected to lip the notes using it into tune the rest of the way.

This may interest some of you. I received this notice in the mail today from the Marine Band. Your tax dollars at work...

Nice cornet. I’m a little surprised there’s no trigger on the 1st valve slide, though. Have you played it yet?

Old Honeymooners episode, “ Young Man With a Horn”.

Yeah, I sold my first trumpet, a 1961 Conn 6B Victor while I was in college to buy a Bach Strad. The Bach, a 1976 model, was a fine trumpet, and I still play it today, but I’ve always regretted selling the Conn. A number of years ago, I saw a pristine 1960 Conn for sale on eBay, just like my old one, and bought it. Not my original trumpet, but its twin, so I did my best to replace it...