Olds Trombone

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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

Any idea if a counterweight from an Olds Ambassador will fit my 1950s Olds Special?
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Doubler
Posts: 435
Joined: Jan 07, 2019

by Doubler »

If it's the type that is soldered onto the crook itself, it'll fit any tenor trombone. I put one on my Olds Studio. I'd prefer that it be a few ounces heavier, but it still beats having no counterweight and being slide-heavy. It looks great, too!
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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

[quote="Doubler"]If it's the type that is soldered onto the crook itself, it'll fit any tenor trombone. I put one on my Olds Studio. I'd prefer that it be a few ounces heavier, but it still beats having no counterweight and being slide-heavy. It looks great, too![/quote]

Ahh. Not thought if that. Was thinking of attaching to the rear brace by way of screwing two halves, as per my Recording.
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Doubler
Posts: 435
Joined: Jan 07, 2019

by Doubler »

Another reason I like it is because it's farther back on the instrument, providing more leverage, thus keeping overall weight down, albeit marginally.
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JohnL
Posts: 2529
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

The very late Ambassadors have a split counterweight that clamps onto a brace.

BUT

The Ambassador's braces are that odd flattened oval cross-section rather than being round as I suspect the braces on your Special are.
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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

[quote="JohnL"]The very late Ambassadors have a split counterweight that clamps onto a brace.

BUT

The Ambassador's braces are that odd flattened oval cross-section rather than being round as I suspect the braces on your Special are.[/quote]

Yep, my Recording braces are round. Now wondering if a tech could do anything to help compensate for the different profiles …
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hyperbolica
Posts: 3990
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by hyperbolica »

[quote="Geordie"]

Yep, my Recording braces are round. Now wondering if a tech could do anything to help compensate for the different profiles …[/quote]

I soldered an Ambassador counterweight onto the tuning slide crook of my Recording. It does help balance the horn a lot.
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

Rear brace hollow? If so could it be filled with lead?
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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

[quote="Vegasbound"]Rear brace hollow? If so could it be filled with lead?[/quote]

I’m not sure if it is hollow or not. The horn is in good condition and I’m cautious about taking off the brace(s) given the age of the lacquer (mid-1950s). At a more practical level I have two lead fishing weights taped on there just now and I’m not convinced that volume of lead would fit inside the braces.

Ideally I need someone with a horn who would part out. I’d buy a whole horn but the freight, tax and import duties into UK means that’s not feasible.
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

Try Andy Flaxman he has a huge collection of horns
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sporto
Posts: 65
Joined: Jul 09, 2018

by sporto »

An Olds Ambassador cwt will fit. The one that's soldered on to the tuning slide. I had one soldered on a 40s Olds Standard.

And I have one to sell if you're interested, although it's scratched on both sides. I can send you a pic.

It's still soldered on an Ambassador tuning slide.
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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

[quote="sporto"]An Olds Ambassador cwt will fit. The one that's soldered on to the tuning slide. I had one soldered on a 40s Olds Standard.

And I have one to sell if you're interested, although it's scratched on both sides. I can send you a pic.

It's still soldered on an Ambassador tuning slide.[/quote]

Definitely interested. Please can PM pics and price. If you have any sort of general idea what the shipping to UK might cost that would be very useful. Thank you.
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Geordie
Posts: 349
Joined: Mar 30, 2018

by Geordie »

Someone here suggested boring out a generic counterweight to fit the horn, thank you - I cannot find your post. I had one, forgotten, in a drawer. Happily Mick Rath’s workshop is close and he was able to do this, and add a little extra weight as I requested. Really pleased with the solution. Thanks again Mick.