Harry B Jay restoration

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Flounderguts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mar 15, 2024

by Flounderguts »

I've been dragging a beautiful Harry B Jay horn around for decades. It needs extensive slide work, but the rest of it seems in pretty good nick.

I don't like going to shops asking for "restoration" work...it's always a groan. I get it, I don't like doing restorations in MY line of work, either!

Is there a shop that welcomes restoration work? It's a silver plated horn, and I'd prefer to find someone that has (lots of) experience with pre-war horns and materials. Happy to ship or deliver, if necessary. My normal guy has been honest with me...said it would probably sit for months and months before he got around to it, and that I probably didn't want his day crew to mess with it.

I'm ok with a long timeline, I just want it to go somewhere that might be excited or interested to work on it.

Thanks!

Flounderguts
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Cmiertschin
Posts: 47
Joined: Dec 23, 2022

by Cmiertschin »

For restoration work, I'd contact Heritage Music Repair in the Kansas City area; Kevin Stiles is excellent for that kind of work.
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JohnL
Posts: 2529
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

What part of the world are you in? When you say something is in "pretty good nick", I get the impression you're in the UK?
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u_8thnote181
Posts: 22
Joined: Dec 25, 2023

by u_8thnote181 »

Kevin is amazing. He's wrapping up on my horn this week. I can't wait to post the finished work.

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Flounderguts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mar 15, 2024

by Flounderguts »

[quote="JohnL"]What part of the world are you in? When you say something is in "pretty good nick", I get the impression you're in the UK?[/quote]

Haha, I'm in Oregon, but I'm from Canada...so fair play.

I'll def check out Kevin Stiles...!
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sungfw
Posts: 257
Joined: Jul 17, 2018

by sungfw »

[quote="Flounderguts"]<QUOTE author="JohnL" post_id="245618" time="1718758706" user_id="119">
What part of the world are you in? When you say something is in "pretty good nick", I get the impression you're in the UK?[/quote]

Haha, I'm in Oregon, but I'm from Canada...so fair play.

I'll def check out Kevin Stiles...!
</QUOTE>

[url=http://www.oberloh.com/]Dan Oberloh (Seattle, WA) has restored a ton of pre-war instruments. Check out the [url=http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/Complete.htm]Completed Projects page in the Gallery for examples of his handiwork. I haven't had work done by him, but know people who have, and they all swear by him.
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u_8thnote181
Posts: 22
Joined: Dec 25, 2023

by u_8thnote181 »

[quote="sungfw"]<QUOTE author="Flounderguts" post_id="246652" time="1719673601" user_id="17801">

Haha, I'm in Oregon, but I'm from Canada...so fair play.

I'll def check out Kevin Stiles...![/quote]

[url=http://www.oberloh.com/]Dan Oberloh (Seattle, WA) has restored a ton of pre-war instruments. Check out the [url=http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/Complete.htm]Completed Projects page in the Gallery for examples of his handiwork. I haven't had work done by him, but know people who have, and they all swear by him.
</QUOTE>

I'm outside of Seattle (Federal Way) and I was waiting to get in with Oberloh. It was Dan who put me in contact with Kevin at Heritage Music. Both shops are amazing at their craft.