Trying to Identify Conn Trombone

kasperi · by **kasperi** » 2025-06-19 7:39 a.m.

I’m trying to find out what model Conn this is (see photos). It only says C.G. Conn Artist on the bell. It has a small shank and and 8.5” bell (or something very close to it) which has a slightly reddish tint. Am wondering whether it could be a 52H, but the tuning slide is on the opposite side. It looks similar to a 50H, but the reddish bell and “Artist” name make me wonder. There is no serial number on either the bell or slide.

Can anybody help me recognise the model?

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2025-06-19 9:03 a.m.

75 or 76H. (I’m too lazy to look it up exactly). On I messed with recently was a 0.515” bore. Fun small horn with a valve. Good step up horn to add a little utility without going to a big horn.

Not worth a ton, but can be fun to play.

Andy

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2025-06-19 10:08 a.m.

If it says "Director" on the cork barrel it's probably a 50H.

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2025-06-19 10:29 a.m.

[quote="elmsandr"]75 or 76H. (I’m too lazy to look it up exactly). On I messed with recently was a 0.515” bore. Fun small horn with a valve. Good step up horn to add a little utility without going to a big horn.

Not worth a ton, but can be fun to play.

Andy[/quote]
75H

<LINK_TEXT text="https://thebrass-exchange.com/content/c ... rose-brass">https://thebrass-exchange.com/content/conn-75h-medium-bore-rose-brass</LINK_TEXT>

You can see the model number on the lower cork barrel in one of the pictures (second row, one in from the right)

I believe the nominal bore should be .522", the same as a 50H.

The couple 50H's I've played were knuckle-knockers unless I paid close attention to my right hand hold.

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2025-06-19 11:49 a.m.

[quote="BGuttman"]If it says "Director" on the cork barrel it's probably a 50H.

[/quote]
Shares a lot of design features, but the OP horn was the upmarket version. They changed the bell (material at least), added a ton of nickel trim and tried to make a more pro level horn. Didn’t quite get all the way there, but the two I’ve played have definitely been better than the couple of 50Hs I’ve encountered.

I’ll have to check the bore again on one… it now belongs to a local student here and now I’m curious to confirm.

Andy

CalgaryTbone · by **CalgaryTbone** » 2025-06-19 12:01 p.m.

I believe that the 76 and 75H's were introduced in the Abeline era as a replacement for the 78/79H. They used the same valve wrap as the 50H and the 60H bass. I think they also used 8.5 inch red bells like the 8/88H. They were supposed to be pro horns, but I think they just "raided" those parts from other horns that they were making to save on tooling costs. Like most of the horns from the Abeline period, there is a wide range in the quality. Every now and then, you can find one that plays well and fills the medium horn niche.

Jim Scott

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2025-06-19 1:39 p.m.

I've had a 76H straight horn. Very strange instrument. Not bad, but really oddball dimensions with the medium-small bore and full 8.5" bell.

kasperi · by **kasperi** » 2025-06-19 2:36 p.m.

"You can see the model number on the lower cork barrel in one of the pictures (second row, one in from the right)"

I just can't find any model number. Are you referring to one of the photos I posted? If so, could you mention the file name so I know which photo you mean?

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2025-06-19 3:47 p.m.

[quote="kasperi"]"You can see the model number on the lower cork barrel in one of the pictures (second row, one in from the right)"

I just can't find any model number. Are you referring to one of the photos I posted? If so, could you mention the file name so I know which photo you mean?[/quote]
I am referring to the pictures included in the Brass Exchange listing linked in my post.

kasperi · by **kasperi** » 2025-06-21 5:29 a.m.

Oh right. I found the photo you meant. And thanks John L for your help.

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Trying to Identify Conn Trombone