Chris Kratt, Union NJ

trumpetplayer87 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 8:44 am Post subject:

Hi!

I bought a trumpet at a yardsale the other day. It's in fairly rough shape (missing laquer, all the joints have been re-soldered, missing valves) but I figured if nothing else I could hang it on my wall, or experiment with colored laquer. It says Chris Kratt, Union NJ, and the on the middle valve casing it has a serial number. I looked up the name Chris Kratt on google and it didn't turn up anything pertaining to this. Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking it's a no-name-cheapo that was sold mail order or something. If you've ever heard of this brand, please post what you know of it here.

Bonnie

Tom K. · Veteran Member Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 483

The only Chris Kratt I've heard of is Chris Kratt (and Martin Kratt) of the kids TV show Kratt's Creatures (now called Zoboomafoo). Maybe you have one of the original creatures.

jazzsolotrumpet · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 4:07 pm Post subject:

trumpetplayer87 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:15 am Post subject:

hahahha...maybe so. I did ask my teacher and he had never heard of it. I guess I'll either experiement with colored laquer or make it into a lamp

Bonnie

Tootsall · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 2952

Lesse.....there was a Chris Kraft.....wasn't he with NASA at one point?
Oh...and Christ Craft.....they were a boat company.
Don't forget the annual Chris. Craft sales (Christmas Craft).

Silly, silly...........................(back in the box).

trumpetplayer87 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:37 am Post subject:

I decided to make the finish brushed and discovered there is 'Made in Germany' inscriped on it. Two vavles are still there, and both have the same serial number on them as the horn. I tried putting another valve from another trumpet but it's a little small, the sound is very distorted.

Bonnie

WxJeff · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:46 am Post subject:

Resurrecting a somewhat old thread... I found the same model cornet today at our local music shop. Chris Kraft of Union, NJ. It was on the top shelf in the back of the store in a funky '50s style turquoise case. The horn is old, but kinda pretty... copper tuning slide and a two tone copper/brass bell.

So, '87, did your Chris Kratt/Kraft clean up nicely and play well? Should I rush right out and buy? Ironically enough, although this store is meticulous in their labeling and pricing of horns, this one was unmarked (the staff admittedly are gear heads and know very little about band instruments.)
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Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520

Danbassin · Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 5:12 pm Post subject:

Bringing back an old one a decade and a half after the last resurrection...but, I just stumbled upon this thread when doing a "Chris Kratt" google search:

Sadly, I can't remember how I came into possession of this particular piece, but I dug it out after recently coming into a vintage Bach G piccolo, which takes a cornet-shanked mouthpiece. This turned out to be the only standard-shanked cornet mouthpiece I had in the house when the thing arrived.

I hope this image attachment will work, but just in case:

"CHRIS KRATT" (with very little space in the font between the first and last name) is stamped across the side of the rim, just above;

Bb CORNET at the top of the cup, followed by;

MADE in GERMANY, then the size?;
SC - 18
[/img]https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kj-nDkoOhGTNER0hOsL--VI9UvgLF59s/view?usp=sharing[img]

I'll take some calipers to it, if any one is interested in the size. The throat feels a little small, but the piece is in good condition, and at least buzzes through the bottom of this horn up to the Brandenburg passages I (of course!) tried out within the first few minutes of having the horn.

Mainly adding these bits of data, as the previous responses on this mysterious manufacturer - or now long-forgotton player who endorsed with various makers - mentioned only New England, USA provenance. The age makes me think this "MADE in GERMANY" might? stand-in for West Germany, and not the DDR/GDR...

The mystery continues...

Happy practicing, whatever you buzz into,
-DB[/img]
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Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Piccolo;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD

ProAm · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 949

Claude1949 · Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 7:47 am Post subject:

Claude1949 · Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 7:51 am Post subject:

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 11:07 am Post subject:

Hopefully in the nearly 16 years since she made that post she has been able to fix it or move on...
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"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

Claude1949 · Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 4:17 pm Post subject: