EMO World Trumpet Louis Armstrong

Mills trumpet · New Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

I am currently trying to find information on a trumpet passed down in the family by my great grandfather I cannot find any information on the web but apparently Louis Armstrong played this on his tour in Australia as the story passed down with it goes it is in great condition with two tiny little marks on top has engravings Emo World on it fancy and a serial number in low hundreds.... I live in Australia I took it to the local musical shop he had no information on it but all he said was could he buy it and at least wanted the opportunity to service it said its at least 70 years old and it's one of the straightest and best sounding instruments he had held and heard from this time... I would be happy with any information and can send fotos if need be...I think it was brought over with a very old wealthy family friend from Europe that I cannot contact and all family members with information have passed away..
Thank You

jadickson · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 3:07 am Post subject:

www.Google.com

I just searched for "emo world trumpet" and found lots of information.

Mills trumpet · New Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

The only thing I could find was a few comments on forums no actual information about the company.... Date of manufacture etc nothing really...

chuck in ny · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:25 am Post subject:

mills, you are killing me here, this is priceless. please post some photos if you can along with whatever relevant information you find.
..chuck

OldEmo · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:44 am Post subject:

I happen to own one of these, serial 814. 60 years is probably more accurate, as much as I know they were made a few years after WW2. It has a very unique sound, never heard anything like it. Not the easiest to play though, and doesn't blend well with others.

Anything I can help with?

Mills trumpet · New Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

I'll take some photos now and put them up its in it's original case with velvet inside and mouth piece has emo on it aswell... I searched louis armstrong and it said he played a emo world on his australian tour i have no idea how I could find out if it's the one played by Louis Armstrong but my mother just said that our great grand father use to get it out and show the family on occasions and explain the story of how it come about ? any ideas on what this is worth or what I should do with it etc as I am a builder and have no idea about music or instruments?

Mills trumpet · New Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

How do I put photos up?.

acritzer · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject:

Easiest way is to sign up for the free hosting sites like snapfish. Then they will give you an HTML code to cut and paste on posts.

yourbrass · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:19 pm Post subject:

Emo World? Any relationship with the famous Emo harmon mute?

OldEmo · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject:

It's the same maker, Ernst Modl. I got one of those, too. Nowadays the brand still exists, but the factory went out of business long ago. Not sure where the new ones are from.

oliver king · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 1251

Emo does great harmons AND buckets. They're a few $$ more than everyone else but worth it. OldEmo ... where in Thailand are you?

AlanC · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 2:17 am Post subject:

Also of interest is how an artist of Armstrong's calibre came to be endorsing the product of a small manufacturer on any tour.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he contracted to Selmer at this time? Any deal would have gone through Joe Glaser who was reputedly a tough negotiator.
Purely conjecture, but maybe a deal between Selmer and Emo World?
Did Emo World use Selmer components?

OldEmo · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:35 am Post subject:

I'm in Chonburi area.

Personally I have doubts about the whole story. The design of the EMO World is close to the Selmer Balanced and one would have a hard time distinguishing them on any of the old pictures or film clips from the time where Louis Armstrong allegedly played them. Ernst Modl may have given one to him as a gift and may have used the fact later to promote his products, but since this was shortly after the war probably nobody outside of Germany paid much attention to that. That said, the sound of this trumpet would really have been a match.

Interestingly, the EMO mutes are considered not that great in Germany. The recent ones do look quite cheap to me. Seems quite different in the US?

mffan · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:25 pm Post subject:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140789701481?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_772wt_940

Here is a nice EMO Champion on ebay now. Might be a good one to get.

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bixtone · Regular Member Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 65

Louis did play an Emo (or is it a Buffet) for a while, you can see it in parts of the film Satchmo the Great. There are also some pics of him with it in the book of his collages, The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong.
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BillyM · Regular Member Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Posts: 49

http://media.photobucket.com/image/emo%20trumpet/bwillo_photo/EMOWORLD.jpg

OldEmo · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject:

The Champion was their basic line as much as I know, and it has the valve block in the "standard" position, unlike the World and World Deluxe. This one on Ebay seems to be an early model, they changed the bracing later to the usual Z shape. Most people prefer the old style, also soundwise. I can't comment on the sound of the Champion, I never tried one myself.

The valves could be an issue, they are nickel plated brass and if they are too worn it'll cost a lot to fix. My EMO World is just ok with heavy valve oil and I had the main tuning slide widened a little because it was leaking and moving on its own, solderings were fixed and dents removed. It's now playable and fun at that. However, a complete restoration with valve rebuilding and replating - I don't think so.

Mills trumpet · New Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

I just got in contact with a guy who specialises in his Australian tour and he said definitely Louis played the emo world... He has photos and a clip of it being played live over here many years ago.... I'm going to put it on eBay does anyone know a ball park figure to start it with its in excellent condition with all valves working only a slight mark or tiny indent on the top engraved emo world maybe obviously they all are I have no idea it's in original case and original emo mouth piece it's number 766 made...I would rather pass it on to someone who would use or appreciate it as I don't know anything about it or have interest in trumpets.. Thank you for all the help..

derby_mute · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 12:11 am Post subject:

Hi, Mills,
Interesting information. My immediate question was, if Armstrong played the horn, why did he leave it in Australia? Was it a gift to your grandfather, and if so, why?

Have you contacted Ricky Ricardi at the Louis Armstrong Museum in Queens, NY? He's the leading expert on Louis from that period, and is an archivist at the museum. They might have some correspondence indicating what the connection to Louis and your horn might be. Louis was a great letter writer. The museum has many of Louis horns but I believe they are mostly Selmers and one LeBlanc.

This is Riccardi's blog: http://dippermouth.blogspot.com/
You probably can contact him through that.

If you can prove beyond a doubt that Louis played it on his Australian tour, it would be very valuable. I wouldn't list it on ebay until you have completely researched it. You may do yourself a serious disservice as far as what you get for it. Seriously - perhaps thousands of dollars US.
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