Recent Conn Purchase

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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

Purchased this vintage Conn last night from Japan. It was described as “large bore tenor, there is a stamp "L LP SYMPH" on its slide. Its serial is #13xxxx. Made in around 1913-1914.” I was informed that this might be a “New Invention Bass Trombone.” Whatever the case, I’m excited to see how this over 100 year old instrument plays.

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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

My guess is that this instrument is younger than 100 years.

Let us know if you learn more about it.
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

[quote="Posaunus"]My guess is that this instrument is younger than 100 years.

Let us know if you learn more about it.[/quote]

You may be right. I was just going off what the seller told me. I’ll definitely update once I get the horn and find out more about it.
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elmsandr
Posts: 1373
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by elmsandr »

[quote="Posaunus"]My guess is that this instrument is younger than 100 years.

Let us know if you learn more about it.[/quote]
Not by much, if at all. No cork barrels.

‘10s-‘20s

It is 2019.

Looks like an awesome find. I’m most surprised by the bell tuning on it.

Cheers,

Andy
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greenbean
Posts: 1958
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by greenbean »

That is what I am thinking. 10's or 20's. Looks great!
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Posaunus
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Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

Andy and HawaiiTromboneGuy are probably right about its age. I should have looked it up.

According to the "Conn Brass Serial Number List"

130150 1913

132400 1914

137000 1915

142575 1916

It just looked newer / more "modern" to me. Wonder what the bore size is and what size mouthpiece it takes? :idk:
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greenbean
Posts: 1958
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by greenbean »

[quote="Posaunus"]Andy and HawaiiTromboneGuy are probably right about its age. I should have looked it up.

According to the "Conn Brass Serial Number List"

130150 1913

132400 1914

137000 1915

142575 1916

It just looked newer / more "modern" to me. Wonder what the bore size is and what size mouthpiece it takes? :idk:[/quote]

I agree. I didn't notice that the OP posted the serial number above until... after... I made prediction about its vintage. It always pays to just read! :idea:
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

In any case, I will know more for sure once the horn arrives. I’ll take some detailed photos as well and upload them here.
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Posaunus
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Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

[quote="HawaiiTromboneGuy"]In any case, I will know more for sure once the horn arrives. I’ll take some detailed photos as well and upload them here.[/quote]

Thanks! :good:
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

Horn has arrived. Here's some better photos of it. According to Conn Loyalist's serial number chart, it should date to 1913. :idk:

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norbie2018
Posts: 1051
Joined: Apr 05, 2018

by norbie2018 »

I cannot believe the amount of red brass on that instrument nor the shape it is in! Great find. How did it play?
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

[quote="norbie2018"]I cannot believe the amount of red brass on that instrument nor the shape it is in! Great find. How did it play?[/quote]

It plays very well with both my Laskey 59MD and 93D. With the 59 it plays like a large tenor. With the 93 it feels like a mini bass. Triggered notes below the staff feel very open with very little resistance. Definitely an interesting horn.

The red brass on this thing is absolutely gorgeous and the horn is definitely in great shape.
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

I think I did this correctly. Also note that the inner tubes are not original.

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Tbarh
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Joined: Aug 16, 2018

by Tbarh »

Amazing find, Drew! The bell looks narrow.. Smaller than 8 1/2"?
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

[quote="Tbarh"]Amazing find, Drew! The bell looks narrow.. Smaller than 8 1/2"?[/quote]

It’s actually 8.5”!
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
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by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

Comparison next to the Fuchs.

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FEWeathers
Posts: 98
Joined: Jan 04, 2019

by FEWeathers »

I was chatting with you over on FB. Looks like you have what later became known as the 14H, with a rotary valve (instead of the other option, which was a piston valve). Or maybe this is what was later known as the 66H? Either way, a neat, in great shape, rare, and beautiful, horn. :cool:
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FEWeathers
Posts: 98
Joined: Jan 04, 2019

by FEWeathers »

Not a pre-66H, or at least it doesn't look like this one in the BrassArk Museum.

http://www.brassark.com/museum/conn66hold.html
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

[quote="FEWeathers"]Not a pre-66H, or at least it doesn't look like this one in the BrassArk Museum.

http://www.brassark.com/museum/conn66hold.html[/quote]

Great detective work! It definitely looks nothing like Noah’s 66H.
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elmsandr
Posts: 1373
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by elmsandr »

Nothing like? Except for all the tubes drawn on probably the same tooling and the same general layout of the wrap and same generic specifications?

There are a LOT of differences, but to me that is mostly explained by the fact that these larger professional level horns were all virtually custom orders then. I'd say Noah's 66H looks like this thing's child.

Cheers,

Andy
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

[quote="elmsandr"]Nothing like? Except for all the tubes drawn on probably the same tooling and the same general layout of the wrap and same generic specifications?

There are a LOT of differences, but to me that is mostly explained by the fact that these larger professional level horns were all virtually custom orders then. I'd say Noah's 66H looks like this thing's child.

Cheers,

Andy[/quote]
Valid points. You are correct in that these were custom orders back in the day. It’s just interesting that although similar, they’re still different in their own ways.
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blast
Posts: 671
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by blast »

Yes, my 1927 14H is the same basic idea but with TIS. All red brass, wide slide .547 bore 8 1/2" bell. It will be starting a run of Magic Flute on Monday. Great trombone.

Chris
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

This thing is cool, wow.
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BGuttman
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Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

For what it's worth, Conn started using the letter designations (H for trombone) in 1919. This predates those numbers.
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walldaja
Posts: 537
Joined: Jul 11, 2018

by walldaja »

Imagine the stories this horn could tell. Great find and thanks for the sharing.
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HawaiiTromboneGuy
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by HawaiiTromboneGuy »

No problem. It’s a marvelous horn.
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PaulT
Posts: 383
Joined: Jul 18, 2018

by PaulT »

Nice Sansevierias.
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Kingfan
Posts: 1371
Joined: Apr 11, 2018

by Kingfan »

Beautiful horn. It's 40 years older than I am and in much better shape!