'63 LB Committee - Miles Holy Grail?

[scipioap]

I finally got my hands and chops on a Martin Committee #3 bore - it's an amazing player, but it seems unique. With serial #218,4xx, I'm guessing the horn's from around 1963 - so either late RMC or early Wurlitzer era? It has what I'd call the Wurlitzer engraving on its big 5 inch bell - no RMC shield, just "The Martin Committee, Elkhart - Indiana, USA". As such, it also has the 3rd slide ring holder relocated from sidemount to topmount. It also had the 1st slide trigger, as introduced by RMC, but the original owner swapped it out for a custom thumb ring, so the trigger was included separately.

What makes it unique for a .468" LB from this 1963 vintage is that it's all brass, with nickel-silver only for the inner slides, so there's no Deluxe marking. I thought this was how Wallace Roney described his most prized LB Committee he inherited from Miles, from the same era. It also has a very tapered tuning slide, per my caliper measurements, similar to Wallace's description, though not exact, although that may be due to my inexperience in measuring. AFAIK, Wallace and Kanstul used that Miles Committee as the basis for their 1603+ model...















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1963 Martin Committee #3
1962 Martin Committee Cornet #3
1961 Martin Custom Committee C
1941 Martin HC Committee #2
1945 Martin Committee #2
1942 Martin HC Committee Cornet
1941 Martin IBICO Indiana
2012 Kanstul 1525 SLB
1977 Olds CT Flugel

[trumpet.trader]

Wow, amazing specimen is it a relacquer or original finish?

[scipioap]

Agree, after 54 years, I can’t imagine it not being a relacquer, but it’s hard to tell, so done well, likely by Kanstul. I actually play a matching RMC Martin Committee #3 bore Deluxe cornet with #216xxx serial close to mint with original lacquer, and in contrast the trumpet lacquer looks like it will last forever.
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1963 Martin Committee #3
1962 Martin Committee Cornet #3
1961 Martin Custom Committee C
1941 Martin HC Committee #2
1945 Martin Committee #2
1942 Martin HC Committee Cornet
1941 Martin IBICO Indiana
2012 Kanstul 1525 SLB
1977 Olds CT Flugel

[fredo]

Hi scipioap, hows does it compare to the Adams A9 ?
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Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass

[scipioap]

[fredo]

tks, no project to buy an other trumpet ... for the moment

my Committee need a good overhaul
_________________
Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass

[kmag]

That is a beautiful trumpet and I can not believe what good shape it is in! Congratulations!

Looking at your photos prompted me to take some measurements on my Lawler C7 and it is amazing how similar they are. From the first two places you measured from they are almost identical, the third is the same. You first measurement of .450" is the same. My second measurement is .467". Since they are both .468" trumpets your must reach the .468" a hair later Mine also has the nickle internal slides and the ports in the valve block are vertical, not at angle, which is a difference I see quite often on Commitee inspired trumpets. These are the same. Mine also has a bell width of 5 1/16" width, red brass, with a .472 bell tail.

Since the Lawler was presented as a Committee inspired trumpet and not a faithful copy is indeed interesting to see how similar they are.

The immediate differences that I see are both the first and third slides are male on the Committee and male and female on the Lawler. The Lawler also does not have the trombone style but regular lever keys. I have no way of measuring the bell taper at home but it does go to show you even the trumpets that are closely inspired by the Martin and still not exact which is fine. I love my C7 and only Martin Committees are the real deal.

You must be over the moon to get one in such great shape.
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Kurt Magnuson

1925 Holton trumpet
1946 Conn 80A
2012 Lawler C7

[scipioap]

Kurt, thanks for your corroborating dimensions. Although I've never tried a Lawler, I've only read positive things about the C7, and was sorry to hear Roy discontinued his trumpet-craft, as the vintage Martin #3's in such condition are nearly impossible to find at reasonable cost.
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1963 Martin Committee #3
1962 Martin Committee Cornet #3
1961 Martin Custom Committee C
1941 Martin HC Committee #2
1945 Martin Committee #2
1942 Martin HC Committee Cornet
1941 Martin IBICO Indiana
2012 Kanstul 1525 SLB
1977 Olds CT Flugel

[kmag]

Thank you.

I do love the Lawler C7 but much of the point of my post is that if you want a Martin Committee you need to bite the bullet and get one. Not everyone is going to find one in the great condition that you got one in but all of the others are based on the Committee and that is where it ends, no matter how close, just as there are great trumpets based on the pre-war Bessons but if you really want one you need to find one. That does not mean the others are substandard but there are limited originals of anything. I would love to try an original Martin Committee in good shape some day!

Roy was saying his hands were taking to much strain making trumpets and that I can relate to. I retired partially due to the strain cable splicing was doing to my hands so I get it. When it is time to do something else your body will tell you.
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Kurt Magnuson

1925 Holton trumpet
1946 Conn 80A
2012 Lawler C7

[kmag]

Great photos by the way.
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Kurt Magnuson

1925 Holton trumpet
1946 Conn 80A
2012 Lawler C7