Bach Mercury Shop card assistance needed

dr-pepp

I recently received a Bach Mercury trumpet to sell on consignment. The owner thought that it was one of the 1939 Mercurys that were given serial numbers beginning with 10,000, but the 67 postal code and other features of the horn told me it was made in 1951 with a serial number in the "correct" sequence.

The shop card arrived and confirms the date, but I'm again having trouble reading Bach's writing on the card. Any guesses about the Bell-Mandril notation or other hard to read parts of this card?

thanks in advance!

http://www.centexbrass.com/listings/2016-09-20/10537.JPG

http://www.centexbrass.com/listings/2016-09-20/IMG_0043.JPG

http://www.centexbrass.com/listings/2016-09-20/IMG_0050.JPG
_________________
Clay Collins
Owner, Centex Brass
www.centexbrass.com
also administrator of Olds Central
www.olds-central.com

dr_trumpet · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 4:40 am Post subject:

Valve Model: E
Exp. Tight valve fit
Monel pistons
Bell says it is a 31 La Rosa
Bell is brass
Standard Gauge Brass
Completed on January 29, 1951
Finish is 1 1/2
Name looks like "John F...." Can't read the last name.

That's what I see!
_________________
Dr. Albert L. Lilly, III DM
Artist/Clinician for Vincent Bach Trumpets (Conn-Selmer)
Principal Trumpet, Hendricks Symphony (Avon, IN)
Arranger/Composer; Lilly Music

rockford · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:44 am Post subject:

steevo · Veteran Member Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 454

You may find this old thread interesting:

http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1174612

rockford · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 6:22 pm Post subject:

Here's a link to Roy Hempley's article on the Mercury models. Look under the General Articles tab.
http://vincentbachsworld.com/index_Frames.php?iframe=General%20Articles/Bach's%20Mercurys,%20Part%20One/Mercurys%20Part%201,%20Revised.htm
_________________
Bill Siegfried
NY/Mt. Vernon Bach trumpets. Yamaha flugelhorn and piccolo A/Bb, Monette and Hammond mouthpieces. Fender and Peavey Cirrus Bass Guitars. Ampeg and Genz-Benz amps. Embraer 170/175/190.

dr-pepp · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info. I'd looked at Roy's article and that helped me determine this was not one of the 1939 horns even before the shop card arrived. This horn does have two piece bell, the seam is just below the edge of the photo showing the bell stamp.

I was having trouble finding anything about the 31 bell so this is helpful. Anyone know what the "La Rosa" reference is on the shop card?

thanks again to the TH experts!
_________________
Clay Collins
Owner, Centex Brass
www.centexbrass.com
also administrator of Olds Central
www.olds-central.com

rockford · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:36 pm Post subject:

dr_trumpet · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:19 pm Post subject:

LittleRusty · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:46 pm Post subject:

After Rockford's post I did a quick search and found "
The new Artisan Trombone Collection is the newest and most exciting development in Bach Stradivarius professional trombones. The collection was developed in collaboration with world renown trombone artist Massimo La Rosa, principal trombone the The Cleveland Orchestra."

But I suspect that Massimo La Rosa is a little too young for the horn in question.

Another factoid, a company called LaRosa manufactured military bugles during the early 1900s.

rockford · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:57 pm Post subject:

Just got a note back from Roy H.. He also thinks LaRosa was one of Bach's bell makers. Possibly in training or possibly La Rosa added something special to the #31 bells. The name appears on 6 trumpet cards with #31 bells and 3 with #12 bells. Bach often built instruments in sets of 3 so the groupings make sense.
_________________
Bill Siegfried
NY/Mt. Vernon Bach trumpets. Yamaha flugelhorn and piccolo A/Bb, Monette and Hammond mouthpieces. Fender and Peavey Cirrus Bass Guitars. Ampeg and Genz-Benz amps. Embraer 170/175/190.