Conn constellation 38b - help

[Lamiczka]

Hello everyone,

TL;DR version
I was lucky to get new Connstellation 38b but it has some issues that I would like to solve. I would appreciate any help or piece of advice:

1. Trumpet doesn't have the best compression and I wasn't lucky to find any local serviceman who would be experienced with nickel re-plating valves. If you would have any tip in Europe I would really appreciate recommendation

2. Previous owner let all "gold" slides (that has originally lacquer finish) nickel plated and I would like to strip it off. It is not much well done so I was able to strip part of it only with bath in vinegar with water. I am not sure what is the best way to strip nickel from brass

3. One finger button is a little bent and I was looking for spare parts (bottom caps would be probably nice as well) If you would have a tip where to buy even in US I would be really happy. I saw that Conn director has same parts and some of them are quite cheap but I don't want to cannibal any trumpet that is playable. I checked ebay already

Thank you for any comment in advance

Longer story
I received my "new" Connstellation two days ago. Because seller didn't know what he was selling it supposed to be little surprise for me if it would be 36b or 38b (price reflected that ). Bell is approx. 13 cm so according to info here it is 38b which was my preferred option

SN is 967xxx so it should be from 1962

Trumpet arrived in very unfortunate condition. I didn't see any horn so filthy like this one I was almost afraid to touch it There were huge pieces of green deposit in valves etc. Nickel plating was lacquered for some reason but it was partially scratched so trumpet looked really weird. It took me almost 3 hours to get it in shape but it worth.

After cleaning it seems like decent horn with beautiful sound. It is a little bit more resistant than my B&S Challenger but despite the compression I would say Connie slots better. And the valve springs and valve speed is superb (probably the best I played so far).

All main issues are described above in TL;DR version Horn itself is complete (no part is missing) and has only one small dent on the tubing. It has 3 spots where nickel plating is scratched (around valves where the horn is hold) but it should be possible to re-plate it with brush plating (I hope).

Here is video of brush silver plating of the trumpet (Timo has nice restoration of Connstellation 38b as well) and brush nickel plating seems to be possible also.

I believe that it is good base for restoration. Once it will be buffed and bass part stripped and lacquered I hope it will be real beauty.

[kehaulani]

Not that there might not be a forum member who is familiar with European repairers, but you would probably get more information by going to the German Trumpet forum. https://trompetenforum.de/TF/
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
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[Brassnose]

Not sure where you are in the Czech Republic but if you happen to be close to the German border, those are shops with a very good reputation for trumpet work:

https://www.martin-schmidt-potsdam.de/

https://www.krinner-instrumentenbau.de/

http://www.hm-trompeten.de/me/me_dt.htm

https://www.kordick.com/

https://www.blechin.de/

If you are closer to Austria, Brassego and Votruba come to mind as well

https://brassego.at/de/

https://www.votruba-musik.at/
_________________
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1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[James Becker]

Congratulations on your acquisition.

My professional advice you you is to leave well enough alone and maintain the original finish, which includes lacquer over nickel plate and polished brass accents.

It’s a pet peeve of mine when folks use the term “restoration” for refinishing, rather than the more appropriate “cosmetic overhaul”. Restoration suggests more than just finish, but also mechanical restoration.

Here in the US we have a Public Television program Antiques Road Show. The takeaway is that original finishes add to the value of an item, while refinishing often lowers value. Not to mention how much material is removed for the sake of improving appearances. Rarely does refinishing improve playability. I’m in favor preservation when appropriate and focus on mechanical restoration to improve playability.

Of course, the decision to refinish or not is entirely up to you. Nickel stripping is best left to professional electoplaters as it involves toxic solutions and reversed current. Nickel stripping from brass is less damaging than stripping from nickel requiring more aggressive sanding and polishing to bring back it’s luster.

With the discontinuation of these fine trumpets and dwindling supply of repair parts, choose wisely.
_________________
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

[Lamiczka]

kehaulani, Brassnose: Thank you a lot for comment and recommendation. I am closer to Austria but with COVID I would need to solve it through transport service anyway so Germany is also OK

I have couple of repairmen but none of them has technology or contact who can do the nickel stripping and plating for them. They offered me only valve lapping and alignment. I have one company that is doing nickel plating for my father but I don't want to experiment with this trumpet that much...

James Becker: I saw some episodes of this show in fact I am watch collector so I know that original condition is better than insensitive repair With coins it is even worse

My intention was to remove nickel plating that was done by previous owner only. It is on the slides that should be lacquered and it is really poor quality s I was able to partially remove it with vinegar (hope that it is safe enough). So intention is to refinish part that are currently "damaged" anyway I want to keep rest of the trumpet as is.

I don't want to strip original plating. With brush plating I wanted to repair only 2 or 3 places where it is scratched (it is not visible on the photo). It is on valve casing so it shouldn't have impact on sound (or at least not significant) and I wanted to protect raw brass.

What surprised me is that nickel plating was lacquered. I thought that final layer was nickel.

Sorry for not being specific. I don't expect refinish only in fact my main problem is compression so I would like to solve it first and second would be valve alignment. With slightly bent finger button I am unable to press one valve till the end

I know that service parts are a bit issue but trumpet is complete. I would like to find new buttons (or repair current ones) and eventually new bottom valve caps.

[deleted_user_687c31b]

You could consider contacting Martinus Geelen in the Netherlands. They've got quite a bit of experience with vintage instruments.

https://www.mgtrumpets.com/

[delano]

Hmmm, Mark Geelen is busy constructing a new building for his company so a little patience ..... Anyway he does not valve rebuilding himself.

Vintage Conn parts I used to buy from Chris Dankler in Downers Grove via seedank@comcast.net but I'm not sure he is still in business.

A warning about the compression of that vintage Conn: the real Conn trumpets and cornets (so not the UMI ones necessarily) have some reputation for having a low compression out of the factory, it seems to be the way they are constructed.
It's only a problem if it's a problem in playing. If you can't get a real sound below low A then there might be a compression problem. Even then, try for some time, difficulties with the low register can be caused by not being used to the (extreme) small bore. Otherwise leave it, though I know somebody who send all his vintage Conn purchases immediately out for a valve job.

[deleted_user_687c31b]

[RL]

resurrecting this topic, does anybody know where to get a tuningslide crook for a constellation 38 B ?(1962) - inside or outside Europe.

Lots of thanks for your suggestions in advance.