Horn detectives - help me out

radiobob · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: Horn detectives - help me out

O.K., I bought it, what is it? I think I know, but I'm not positive, took a bit of a gamble. And what's with the funky brace? Has someone converted this to a tuning bell?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7308399396&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

Bob

PhxHorn · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

I see a bottle of Al Cass oil in the case from way back--it's the old eye dropper bottle. I think those went away about 20 years ago.

Sorry I couldn't help on the horn

Ebayscrounger · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob, I looked at it too,and wondered the same thing about that rear brace. I don't have a clue what it might be...Good luck
_________________
I once had it, but I lost it. Where did it go???

Still looking for my horn...

Gilligan · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:37 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob

I've seen that type of brace in that location on several Pan American and Cavalier Horns which makes me believe that this horn is possibly an unmarked stencil made in the Pan American factory.

radiobob · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. I'm not entirely sure, but I believe this is an Olds pro horn, not sure which one though. It looks like someone made modifications to it, and replaced the bell, I was thinking it could have been someone's attempt at a tunable bell horn, using a different bell. I noticed the place where the bell mates with the valves looks different then Olds. If it is an Olds, with the nickle plating on the leadpipe and tuning slide, and looking at the 1962 catalogue on Olds Central, it would have to be either a Special, Super or Recording. But I don't know, if the serial is right, it would have been made in 1955, and things could have changed. His 1957 catalogue just has drawings. One thing is it looks like it has the trombone style water key on the third slide too, looking at some late 40's Olds horns, some of them were like that, but by '53 it seems they started putting a regular water key on hte third slide. Or maybe this is all just wishful thinking, and maybe it is a Pan American with that funky brace they used. If it is I'll be PO'd. But, we shall see.

Bob

plp · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

The spit valves look like Martin to me, wish I could see the bottom of the valve caps better. Congrats, maybe you picked up a modded Committee, if so at 104 dollars you are now the stuff of ebay legend.

radiobob · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:43 am Post subject:

Well, now that's a tantalizing thought. The third slide water key does look like a Martin, but not the tuning slide, at least on the ones I just looked at. My luck, it'll say " made in Czechoslovakia" on the reciever. I saw someone here a while back that got a Committee for $75 BIN on Ebay. Now that's legendary.

Bob

radiobob · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:

Well, plp, you've got good eyes. Another bidder on the horn e-mailed me to ask about it, he said the horn was up twice, he almost got it and then the buyer backed out so they sent him a second chance offer and then they never replied back to him. Bummer. Anyway, he pointed out it has the Committee pinky ring and a few other Martin traits, and now I've seen examples of those water keys on Indianas and Imperials. This guy also said he's seen Martins with removable bells ( I remember seeing one on Ebay awhile back with a regular and a Dizzy bell) and custom jobs, he thought it might be one of those. I've never yet owned a Martin so I didn't recognize the traits.

Bob