Question on sweet new Mt Vernon Strad

jhellerstein · Regular Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 68

Just received a sweet '64 large-bore Mt Vernon Bach Strad. It's in near-perfect condition, plays great. It does have a couple peculiarities relative to the stock Elkhart ML I grew up with. Wondering if anybody here has info.

First, the third valve slide has a kind of silver sleeve on the interior tubing that I haven't seen before. Is that a large-bore Strad thing or a vintage thing or a repair?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cPJBKYrzYnitnwno7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/s3PnyMvg5AKJHs7z6

Second, the tops of the valves are a matte silver color rather than the brass color I expect.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rQvRChxmXYt2bUsm9

Third, there's traces of silverplate on the tuning slide.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y7ZRXt3j57aDUmYY9

Does anybody experienced with Bach horns of this vintage have thoughts? Thanks!

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2594

There's nothing unique about this. It either came that way or, more probably, was re-silverplated at some point in time and maybe it had a valve job, too. There would be no reason for Bach to have differentiated between the plating on ML Mt. Vernon's and LB Mt. Vernon's.
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HERMOKIWI

LittleRusty · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:36 pm Post subject:

sounds7 · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:39 pm Post subject:

Its been re plated, you see that.

OldSchoolEuph · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 2482

Item 1: Looks like an unusual repair to achieve a tight seal after some sort of significant issue. Definitely not a normal feature of a Mt. Vernon 180 (11/1962-12/1964)

Item 2: Its had at least one valve job. It is normal for the spring box to get plated when the piston is. Looks like the ports were plated as well.

Item 3: The slide legs have been resoldered - another repair. After repairs such as straightening either the slide or the body from issues like a drop, it is normal to have to perfect alignment by re-attaching both legs after tweaking crook, sleeves or both. It looks to be a first rate job based on no excess or plating damage - but there's nothing you can do about a little solder staining on the brass legs no matter how fast you wipe.
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Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com

2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
1954 Holton 49 Stratodyne
1927 Conn 22B
1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20

jhellerstein · Regular Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 68

Very helpful, thanks! Confirms my suspicions.

Shop card on its way from the nice folks at Conn-Selmer as well.

rockford · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:32 pm Post subject:

The silver plating is definitely aftermarket since it was originally a lacquered instrument.
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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.