In my own playing life I'd had the opportunity to play some very old (1920's) instruments for at least a few moments, a Martin, Holton and a few Kings - all of which had nickel plated (or some slightly more slippery brass alloy) slides. These slides have all been terrible. The oldest trombone I've personally played with Chrome plated inners is my friend's 1937 King Liberty -a terrific horn with a terrific slide.

Was King the first company to chrome plate their inners? If so, is there any documentation/advertising talking about this advancement?

Hi,

I think CG Conn was the first company to Chrome plate inner slides, but in the early days the inners and cork barrels etc were chrome plated as a whole assembled unit.

Conn was for certain Chrome plating inner slides in 1929, possibly in late 1928.

King started Chrome plating in in the 30s, a 1935 Symphony I examined was nickel plated. An early Silvertone I worked on had one nickel soldered on stocking) and a Chrome tube (intergral stocking), I believe both tubed were original.

Benn

[quote="octavposaune"]Hi,

I think CG Conn was the first company to Chrome plate inner slides, but in the early days the inners and cork barrels etc were chrome plated as a whole assembled unit.

[/quote]

Is that the same way Holton did their plating? were the cork barrels and tubes assembled and then chromed or chromed and then assembled? I wonder if there's any advantage to doing it one way vs. the other.

As far as I know, Olds was the first company to chrome plate inner slide tubes. Frank Olds worked as an electroplater in the 1880's (long before he started making trombones); according to his obituary, "he established the first electroplating plant on the Coast". Looking at the city directories, it appears that he was working either for or with a man named Henry T. Hazard. Hazard was a significant figure in Los Angeles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (he as mayor from 1889-1892).