Info on Olds Special Trombone
- JoshStambaugh
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Jan 13, 2023
Hello, I just picked up a Los Angeles Olds Special with the serial number 22XXX. Is there anyone that could give me some more information and specs on a horn like this? Also opinions on this era of olds trombones? Thanks!
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The olds Specials had a different color flare vs stem, which made it different looking. Kind of cool. It was a small dual bore, 485/500, 7.5" bell. Designated L15.
In general, the www.itsabear.com site is the place to go for info, but surprisingly I don't see anything on Specials there.
Horn-u-copia also <LINK_TEXT text="https://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/ ... t=Trombone">https://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/Productline.php?maker=Olds&instrument=Trombone</LINK_TEXT>
They're not really rare, although rarer than Supers or ambassadors.
I've owned a few Olds: Ambassador, P24g, S20, Flugabone and currently own a Recording. Generally they were underrated horns, very high quality, well designed and assembled. Usually on the heavy side. And they tend to sell cheap these days, which can be good or bad depending on which side of the sale you're on.
People try to make a distinction between LA and Fullerton like Elkhart and Abilene, but the difference wasn't like that, in my experience. The quality of the horn depends much more on how it was treated and the quality of repairs. Ambassadors got a reputation as student tanks, but the rest were really pro-level horns.
In general, the www.itsabear.com site is the place to go for info, but surprisingly I don't see anything on Specials there.
Horn-u-copia also <LINK_TEXT text="https://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/ ... t=Trombone">https://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/Productline.php?maker=Olds&instrument=Trombone</LINK_TEXT>
They're not really rare, although rarer than Supers or ambassadors.
I've owned a few Olds: Ambassador, P24g, S20, Flugabone and currently own a Recording. Generally they were underrated horns, very high quality, well designed and assembled. Usually on the heavy side. And they tend to sell cheap these days, which can be good or bad depending on which side of the sale you're on.
People try to make a distinction between LA and Fullerton like Elkhart and Abilene, but the difference wasn't like that, in my experience. The quality of the horn depends much more on how it was treated and the quality of repairs. Ambassadors got a reputation as student tanks, but the rest were really pro-level horns.
- TubaDavey
- Posts: 15
- Joined: May 03, 2018
[quote="hyperbolica"]The olds Specials had a different color flare vs stem, which made it different looking.[/quote]
There was a point when they were made with all yellow bells. I owned one for a bit, still a great horn!
There was a point when they were made with all yellow bells. I owned one for a bit, still a great horn!
- SteveM
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Dec 21, 2021
[quote="hyperbolica"]Generally they were underrated horns, very high quality, well designed and assembled. Usually on the heavy side.[/quote]
Some of the Olds models were heavy but the Special was actually a relatively light horn (I think they were 2 lbs. 14 ozs.).
Some of the Olds models were heavy but the Special was actually a relatively light horn (I think they were 2 lbs. 14 ozs.).
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
There is more information on ItsABear.com.
See page 8 of the attached (post-Los Angeles) 1961 Catalog:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/Olds1961.pdf
See page 8 of the attached (post-Los Angeles) 1961 Catalog:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/Olds1961.pdf
- Geordie
- Posts: 349
- Joined: Mar 30, 2018
Mine is nose heavy, in common with some other Olds models. Adding a generic counterweight fixed the issue. Good, solid easy blowing horn I found.
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
A serial number in the 22xxx range puts it in the late 1940's. I don't have any catalogs on my site from that period, but Alan Rouse has a couple on his Olds Central site.
[url=https://olds-central.com/1947-catalog/]1947
[url=https://olds-central.com/1948-catalog/]1948
I'd expect it to be primarily yellow brass rather the the mixed material used a few years later.
I'd expect it to be primarily yellow brass rather the the mixed material used a few years later.
- mlshermancpa
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Apr 04, 2018
My Old Special looks like 21936 and either an 8 or B at the end. I was told it was 1946. It is definetly nose heavy as it doesn't have a counterweight However, it is very playable with a nice tone. I've been moving between 6 1/2A and 11C mouthpieces.
Mine does not have the two tone bell.
Mine does not have the two tone bell.
- WaveformWanderlust
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sep 06, 2023
I always hear good things about Olds horns. How are you liking it?