Valve Trombone

rleegabe · by **rleegabe** » 2021-10-22 4:35 p.m.

I just bought a Conn Valve Trombone today, The serial numberif I am reading this correct is E3099 According to Conn serial numbers for brass reads it was made in 1965. Can someone confirm I am reading this correctly? What's confusing me is mine only has 4 numbers and the chart here has 5.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/resou ... al-numbers">https://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/resources/serial-numbers/cg-conn-instrument-serial-numbers</LINK_TEXT>

Conn Cup Mouthpiece and Reed Mouthpiece Instruments

1957 - 1972

Date Serial #

1957 652002

1958 718626

1959 779657

1960 834200

1961 898556

1962 949465

1963 c00501

1964 c73854

1965 e54106

1966 h31247

1967 k35274

1968 l20454

1969 "m" prefix

1970 "n" prefix

1971 "p" prefix

1972 "r" prefix

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2021-10-22 5:19 p.m.

Picture of the horn?

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2021-10-22 5:24 p.m.

If the instrument is Abilene (1972-c.1980, and saying "Conn USA" on the bell engraving, it's possible that there is a weird serial number. I had a Conn Director from Abilene that had the serial A 2xx (no idea when it was made).

Another possibility is that there are other numbers or letters before what you think is the serial. Maybe 2 letters like "GC". There is a way to interpret serials like that down to the month of manufacture.

greenbean · by **greenbean** » 2021-10-22 6:59 p.m.

The Gen II horns had a letter followed by a space and then 4 numerals. But, yes, photos are needed. Of the bell engraving and the serial #.

rleegabe · by **rleegabe** » 2021-10-22 8:14 p.m.

<IMG src="">~~[img]~~</IMG>[quote="BGuttman"]If the instrument is Abilene (1972-c.1980, and saying "Conn USA" on the bell engraving, it's possible that there is a weird serial number. I had a Conn Director from Abilene that had the serial A 2xx (no idea when it was made).

Another possibility is that there are other numbers or letters before what you think is the serial. Maybe 2 letters like "GC". There is a way to interpret serials like that down to the month of manufacture.[/quote]

rleegabe · by **rleegabe** » 2021-10-22 8:17 p.m.

[quote="rleegabe"]<IMG src="">~~[img]~~</IMG><QUOTE author="BGuttman" post_id="160604" time="1634937865" user_id="53">
If the instrument is Abilene (1972-c.1980, and saying "Conn USA" on the bell engraving, it's possible that there is a weird serial number. I had a Conn Director from Abilene that had the serial A 2xx (no idea when it was made).

Another possibility is that there are other numbers or letters before what you think is the serial. Maybe 2 letters like "GC". There is a way to interpret serials like that down to the month of manufacture.[/quote]
</QUOTE>

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2021-10-22 9:44 p.m.

The photos certainly prove that the bell is from Elkhart. (Implies 1972 or earlier.) The serial number on the valve casing (E3099) does not seem consistent with the numbering scheme used for other Elkhart instruments of the time. (As you point out, in 1965 we would have expected 5 numbers after the E - Exxxxx.) Apparently some sort of an outlier - and a rare find. You may have a treasure! :idk:

Have you cleaned it, oiled the valves, and played it? What do you think?

greenbean · by **greenbean** » 2021-10-22 10:14 p.m.

The valve section looks nothing like a Conn valve section.

pfrancis · by **pfrancis** » 2021-10-24 9:07 a.m.

I agree with Tom about the valve section, in fact if I were betting I would put money on it being a Getzen valve set.

CalgaryTbone · by **CalgaryTbone** » 2021-10-24 11:34 a.m.

The bell is older than an "E" serial number based on the engraving and size. The "E" serial numbers would have either the fairly ornate engraving typical of the 88H's of that era, or the "Marching Men" engraving that you see on a lot of 6H's. That looks like it's from the 30's (maybe 20's?).

Jim Scott

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