Posts made by Zman

Oh, I'll play......just got a few back from restoration/repairs.
Here's a pretty rare Martin Handcraft Troubadour Cornet complete with the original warranty card and receipt from Sept 1930.

@trumpetom
Your list is going to take a while I think.
I've not seen any of those sizes in a long time (~10 years).
I've only seen 2 4x2's ever - I recently picked up a 4x1 - but it's a C shank (shorter than the Bb).
There is a seller in Japan who has a good range - but you're looking at US $300 - $450 per piece as they command a premium in that market.

@Dr-GO said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

Here as a large bore Harrelson Summit compared to a Martin Committee (not sure bore size used in this comparison) Hard to tell the difference.

https://trumpetgear.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/summit-vs-committee_2.mp3

This has been my experience in playing my Summit. My large bore Harrelson so close to my Medium bore Committee and with the Harmon mute in... they are scary identical! The Harrelson plays SO MUCH easier than the Committee.... almost effortlessly, especially when going above the D above staff. And you can play so quietly to double high C with amazing control and little effort. While I can do a similar range with the Committee on my Kanstul G2 mouthpiece, it does take a lot more concentration to do the same work once above the D above staff.

D

The Harrelson was a ML.460 bore , LP 1 and Bell 7. It was setup with that sound profile in mind. The Committee is a 46 Medium(Step) bore.

Wow, that was seven years ago aleady. I have neither horn these days. I finished playing around with the Harrelson and am now mostly Martin. (I have one Taylor Chicago).

@tjveloce said in Martin Committee Club:

The Committee has no third valve tuning slide stop. What are you using to keep your slide from falling out when it’s not in your hands, for example, on a stand while you’re playing your flugelhorn?

the Chief Gearhead

I use a small hair band. They are cheap, replaceable and don't wear the lacquer very much. About $1 for a pack of 10

@JorgePD Thanks for checking out the video. I swear I will do more soon. I've been a bit pre-occupied lately with a Band Competition and a new work.

@tjcombo said in Favorite Cornet:

My favourite cornet today is this sweet old Martin Indiana which "saved my life".
My band had two slots -Sunday and Monday of a holiday weekend at a jazz festival an hour and a half drive from home. I normally stay for the whole weekend, but family matters prevented this. I arrived an hour before our slot, opened the hatch of my car to see no trumpet. Don't like leaving horns in a car.
Most of the bands with brass players had played on the previous days and had left town. Was walking from the car in my stupid purple suit when someone on the way to their gig said "great suit". I told him that I should've spent more time packing my instrument than dressing up. His keyboardist, a local, rocked up and said "I have an old trumpet upstairs". He returned with this baby.
It performed almost flawlessly. The first valve was sticking during a solo in Dm - fortunately you can hold down 1st and still make fair riff in Dm . No valve oil, so I had to make do with a bit of old school saliva on the valves

Those little guys are pretty under-rated in my opinion. (I dedicated a whole video to it)
I have several examples (a couple spare if anyone is looking too ).

@administrator said in Buy your horns here, not there!:

I, myself, have been tempted to start a "buy low, sell high" horn company. I doubt there is much profit to be had, though.

The learning curve is steep and the road is long.
There are no quick dollars to be had doing this, and it takes time to build credibility with customers and suppliers.
(It's even worse if you are outside the US as shipping items around adds to costs)

I only keep doing it as I love it and get to connect with like-minded people.

To keep this thread going I present to you the rather scarce Martin Handcraft Committee Cornet.
It's interesting in that the design configuration really didn't change much at all from the Handcraft Imperial from a few years earlier. They basically changed the trim kit, recycled an earlier finger ring, put on a new LP to Bell brace and Mpc receiver and called it a day.
Unfortunately no longer in my collection - but in safe hands of another collector.

Hi,
Just shot this video showing some of my own personal collection of early Schilke Mouthpieces. While most people are likely familiar with the 6A4a and 14A4a type numbering system - most would perhaps not know of the earlier alphabet style pieces, and the even earlier Lewelynn Personal Model mouthpieces made by Schilke.
Grab yourself your favorite beverage as this is one of the longer ones...........

@Dr-GO said in Martin Committee Club:

@Zman said in Martin Committee Club:

@tjveloce thanks for your insights.

...I already made one that used a Committee block with an engraved Lawler C7 deluxe bell that turned out fantastic. Now I am looking at BC 9 & 10 and have the parts to make other versions using original bells.

I played the Lawler C7. It does not sound as my Committee, it is only a copy, and not one of the better ones. The bell is as important a key feature as the original bell. It must have the exact taper and dimensions of the original or it will not sound as a vintage Committee.

I agree that the two sound different - but you can also adapt parts to match dimensions and compensate in other areas. The one I had made up already was done by Josh Landress who understands these horns very well. I collect Martins and can tell you it played in between a Deluxe Committee and a Handcraft. Even the bell tail was modified - that was the attention to detail.

@Dr-GO said in Martin Committee Club:

ALSO: How are people going to reproduce the original metal alloy. It contained lead. In the mid-50's our government highly regulated leads use in producing brass alloy. That will take away from timbre. How do you adjust for this?

I have access to original parts - bells and valve blocks, no reproductions. (maybe the odd brace - i.e. waterkey brace or finger ring where these are not available). I'm not planning mass production here - just a small number.

@Dr-GO said in Martin Committee Club:

@Zman said in Martin Committee Club:

@tjveloce thanks for your insights.

I should feel that I should explain myself a little more when I refer to 'cosmetics' as I have something in mind. If the valves were Martin, but the valve casing looked slightly different - would that sway your decision to purchase an instrument based on this?

The valves MUST be original Martin. There is no substitute. This "pistons" (Martin's designation) are unique and are primed by water. They work amazingly well with this design. This is one of the virtues I adore about the original. In addition, the wear better then ANY trumpet I own. My horn is a 1946, 73 years old, and looks BEST of all my horns. Pristine. Don;t change the original. It is perfect.

To answer you basic question: The valve casings would not be an issue.

Thanks, I would be using the same pistons that are in the Committee and a valve casing from another horn - all with original Martin parts. I have been stashing parts for many years now to do such projects.

@tjveloce thanks for your insights.

I should feel that I should explain myself a little more when I refer to 'cosmetics' as I have something in mind. If the valves were Martin, but the valve casing looked slightly different - would that sway your decision to purchase an instrument based on this?
In case anyone is wondering - I am working on a couple of things as part of my Heritage line which will be pretty close to the original. I already made one that used a Committee block with an engraved Lawler C7 deluxe bell that turned out fantastic. Now I am looking at BC 9 & 10 and have the parts to make other versions using original bells.

I would like to pose a couple of questions to the group in regards to the Committee's if I may:

1. Which is your favorite Martin Committee (trumpet) and why?
2. For those that have an original - and say one of the 'clones' (Lawler, Schilke Handcraft, Kanstul 1603, Adams A9 etc) which one is the one you play the most and why? Are there things about the new ones that you wish were a feature on the newer ones?
3. Are you concerned about the cosmetics as much, or is functionality the king in your decision to purchase? (I realize there are both players and collectors who might have conflicting opinions)

Another new video - Martin tone for entry level pricing.......

Here's a new video which talks about the Martin Band Instruments Trumpet Mouthpiece line from the 20's through late 1950's:

Up to Episode #8 of the Horn Introduction series and this one is pretty special. It's literally the most expensive horn I have ever purchased. (Probably still cheaper than one of the new Artist Series horns though )

The video features the rare Martin Handcraft Imperial Large Bore (#3) from the 38-39 era with an M bell and all the extras.

Here's a video I just posted on the Martin Handcraft Standard (US Forces Model) Bb Trumpet.
Collectors etc might also be interested to hear me name the Martin Band Instrument Company Executive Team in the video also (I have these from an official document which is also shown)