Valve rebuild on my '67 Holton Collegiate (T-602)

[ButchA]

Instead of spending $$$$ on a brand new horn, I am going to try rebuilding the valves on my school band, 1967 Holton Collegiate after 50 years of playing, starting out in grade school.

I found this kit on eBay and snatched it up. It should be coming in the mail next week (according to the latest email I received).




And then I will take apart the valves, as seen in this photo I just took, just now, of the original 1967 valves, felts, springs, that are (obviously) very worn out after 50 years.



I wonder what to expect... Has anyone ever done this?
_________________
1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.

[Brad361]

I would not expect too much, other than maybe quieter valves. There’s a very good chance that the felts are just generic, which means your valve alignment will be incorrect, and the springs may or may not be to your liking regarding how light or stiff they are.

Changing felts and springs is nowhere near a “valve rebuild”, it’s just felts and springs. If your valves are worn and leaking, felts and springs won’t help much, and an actual valve rebuild would cost more than your horn is probably worth. If it’s worth more to you because of sentimental value though, you could spend the money (probably around 4-500) for an actual rebuild, you just could not recoup that cost if you ever sell it....which it sounds like you might not do anyway.
An idea might be to have someone like Doctor Valve look at the horn, there might be less expensive alternatives.

After all of my jabbering here, if all you want is to quiet your valves, those felts probably will do that.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

[ButchA]

Thanks... I wasn't sure at first, as I never did anything to my trumpet in the 50 years I've owned it. I appreciate the clarification.
_________________
1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.

[Brad361]

Another thought: just because your horn is fifty years old does not necessarily mean your valves are worn; if it actually has not had fifty years of PLAYING, they might be ok. At any rate, changing felts and springs won’t hurt anything, and if the old ones are very worn your alignment is probably off now anyway, even the ebay ones might be better than worn ones.

I actually played a ‘66 or ‘67 Holton Al Hirt model as a seventh and eighth grader, that horn was a step up or maybe down from the Collegiate. I honestly don’t remember exactly how it played, but I don’t remember it having any issues that a second -third year player could determine.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

[shofarguy]

I learned to play trumpet on a 1969 Holton Collegiate 602. It played and sounded really nice. Its intonation went all wonky with a Harmon mute, but other than that, it was a nice horn.

I think that if you want to work on it for the sake of having a project, go for it. But, the finished value of the horn will probably be less than what it cost new in 1969 dollars. Mine needed a lot of dents taken out and to be re-lacquered. The dent work alone was going to cost $150.00. That's what my folks paid for it new. Instead, I sold it as-is to our mail man for $50.00.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[kehaulani]

And if you get to that point, Jim Becker at Osmun Music has rebuilt my valves on my trumpets (see signature). Very good results.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Robert Rowe]

Other than sentimental value, your horn isn't worth more than $350 - $500, at best.

The rebuilding services mentioned here can cost nearly that, alone.

Save your money, and put it toward another horn ... and, have fun.


~ r2 ~
deplorable, erudite horn player
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~ Love animals ... don't eat them. ~

I miss Genghis Khan ....

[Dayton]

A few years ago I inherited a 1950s Holton Super Collegiate cornet. I had the valves replated as they were badly worn (and some other work done). That turned it into a nice horn -- nice enough that I decided to sell my other cornet.

A complete valve overhaul wil probably cost you over $400, but if you plan to continue playing that horn it is a very worthwhile investment (assuming that your valves are actually worn).

[theslawdawg]

[ButchA]

Woo-hoo!!! Guess what already came in the mail this afternoon. I watched a You Tube video and very VERY carefully changed out the felt rings and valve springs.

Incredible 1967 Holton Collegiate now!! My God... The action/speed and feel of the valves, and the quietness of operation is amazing!


Link

_________________
1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.

[homecookin]

COOL...Ya gotta love those old HOLTON TRUMPETS !!!
I have a 1954 Holton model 49 "Stratodyne".
I have had it since 1960 and the
valves are in perfect shape.

[BillyM]

When the installation of the pads and springs is complete, buy Hetman Classic Piston Valve oil. This thicker oil will help if valves are worn. Cheap fix.

[ButchA]

Thanks... I always use Hetman valve oil, slide oil, etc... It's great stuff!
_________________
1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.

[theslawdawg]

[James Becker]

[Ed Kennedy]

[ButchA]

Thanks everyone...

Yeah, my '67 Holton Collegiate is my prized trumpet from school band from all those years ago. All the scratches, tarnish, loss of lacquer, etc... were all by me and my DNA over the past 50 years. It is very sentimental to me, and I just can't part with it.

If you look up old unrestored Holton T602's on eBay or Craigslist, you'll see them average around $100 bucks to $150, and that's about it.

I would love to have it completely overhauled, torn apart, reassembled, etc... but the cost would be outrageous to what it's real true "street value" price actually is.
_________________
1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.

[James Becker]

Whenever major work is performed on a musical instrument the purpose should be to extend usefulness, not to make a killing by flipping it, rarely do you recoup the expense. If it means enough to enjoy an additional 15 or 20 years of solid use, then why not? The replacement cost for a brand new student Holton Bb trumpet is about $1000.00. Based on that combined with sentimental attachment might make you think again. But it sounds like you've made up your your mind, and that's okay too.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US