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Contempora Leonard Smith Trumpet: Ebay



 
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Brassman19
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:55 am    Post subject: Contempora Leonard Smith Trumpet: Ebay Reply with quote

The Ebay seller whose Contempora trumpet I posted about a couple of days ago, and who took their ad down, has put it back up again, apparently revised, as I thought might be the case. For everyone interested in a great, high-end vintage pro horn, here is the new link:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385132236187?hash=item59abab8d9b:g:MJMAAOSw-85jK4pV

Larry
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stumac
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the heads up, I bid and won this, having played one that belongs to a friend I was most impressed.

It is now in Australia and I hope to have it next week.

Regards, Stuart.
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Brassman19
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are welcome Stuart. I am glad my "heads-up" post helped you.

I had a Leonard Smith Contempora horn myself for a time, and it really was a great instrument, and very well made. It just didn't work well for me personally, likely at least some in part to it being a "Large Bore" (though only at 0.462"), which probably affected its blow and feel enough to make it not like that of my Olds Special, confusing my embouchure trying to play both. I seem to play best using Medium Large bore horns, such as those which were made by Olds.

Larry
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mike ansberry
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is this basically the same as an Olds Super?
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Subtropical and Subpar
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mike ansberry wrote:
Is this basically the same as an Olds Super?


I don't believe so. Both have the imprint of Foster Reynolds, who worked at (deep breath) York, H.N White / King, started his own company, and was hired out of retirement by Olds, where he hired Ziggy Kanstul. And the Contempora might be similar in nature to the Olds Super - they both have nickel tone rings, for example - but the Reynolds Contempora has a bronze alloy bell and most variants also had a bronze alloy leadpipe. The Leonard Smith model had nickel inner slides. This is all from Contempora Corner. https://contemporacorner.com/trumpets/contempora-trumpets/
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Halflip
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brassman19 wrote:
I had a Leonard Smith Contempora horn myself for a time, and it really was a great instrument, and very well made. It just didn't work well for me personally, likely at least some in part to it being a "Large Bore" (though only at 0.462")

I favor medium and medium-large bores too, which is why I acquired a Model 40-M trumpet and Model 21-M cornet when I decided to add a couple of Reynolds Contempora horns to my collection. These have .458" bores (they aren't considered "Leonard Smith" models, but I can live with that). They are wonderful players.
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Brassman19
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 6:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Contempora is not the same as an Olds Super. I have a Super myself now, and they don't play or sound alike at all, at least not to me.

If anything, the Contempora might be a bit like the Olds Recording model, with it having a red brass bell (though no nickel-silver kranz ring like the Super and the Contempora have), but really they are not alike either. It is a unique horn in its own right, especially with it being a Large Bore (most Olds horns are .460", with a few exceptions, while the Contempora's is at .462"), plus having a first slide trigger, which also affects the acoustics of how it plays and sounds, plus responds.
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mike ansberry wrote:
Is this basically the same as an Olds Super?


There is no relationship there.

The Olds Super originated by 1932, when Foster Reynolds still worked for HN White. The Reynolds Contempora line originated in 1949, after Reynolds had sold his 1936-founded company to partner Max Sherl (Sherl & Roth) and was working for F.E. Olds. Olds did not control the Reynolds brand until after Richards Music, which bought Reynolds in 1961, was liquidated in 1964. The Reynolds assets were then acquired by CMI, which owned Olds, bringing Reynolds under Olds 4 years after Foster Reynolds had died at the Olds plant.
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Halflip
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brassman19 wrote:
If anything, the Contempora might be a bit like the Olds Recording model, with it having a red brass bell (though no nickel-silver kranz ring like the Super and the Contempora have), but really they are not alike either. It is a unique horn in its own right, especially with it being a Large Bore (most Olds horns are .460", with a few exceptions, while the Contempora's is at .462")

Just to reiterate my last post in this thread, Brassman19, from 1952 to 1961 the Contempora could be had in an ML (.458") bore. Here is the link to the page on the Contempora Corner website that describes it (look for the write-up on Model 40-M):

https://contemporacorner.com/trumpets/contempora-trumpets/

Both the L and ML bore Contemporas could also be had without a trigger (look at Models 41-L and 41-M on the same page).

You are correct, however, in asserting that the Leonard Smith model Contempora (Model 40-S) was only available in the large bore and with a first slide trigger.
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Subtropical and Subpar
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Halflip wrote:
Brassman19 wrote:
If anything, the Contempora might be a bit like the Olds Recording model, with it having a red brass bell (though no nickel-silver kranz ring like the Super and the Contempora have), but really they are not alike either. It is a unique horn in its own right, especially with it being a Large Bore (most Olds horns are .460", with a few exceptions, while the Contempora's is at .462")

Just to reiterate my last post in this thread, Brassman19, from 1952 to 1961 the Contempora could be had in an ML (.458") bore. Here is the link to the page on the Contempora Corner website that describes it (look for the write-up on Model 40-M):

https://contemporacorner.com/trumpets/contempora-trumpets/

Both the L and ML bore Contemporas could also be had without a trigger (look at Models 41-L and 41-M on the same page).

You are correct, however, in asserting that the Leonard Smith model Contempora (Model 40-S) was only available in the large bore and with a first slide trigger.


The Olds Recording cornet-style tunable bell trigger on some of the Contemporas is quite the rare feature, too. Looking at the mechanism... I imagine it made it a real pain in the *** to swab your tuning slide. Still, I'm sure some players back in the day loved it.
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Brassman19
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So, Stumac, I assume the Contempora which bid you won on Ebay finally delivered. How do you like it? Does it play well for you? I'm interested to hear how it is, and works for you.

Let us know, if you wouldn't mind.

Larry
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stumac
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Picked up the Reynolds last tuesday, has exceeded my expectations, appears not to have been played very much. Took it to Big Band on thursday night (specialist 3rd trumpeter) plays easily up to high C with a bright and solid tone.

Have a Gig this thursday night, a 3 hour swing dance so it will have a good workout. It definately a keeper.

I have removed the first slide ring and its mount, keeping the trigger.

A couple of things I will do in due course, Replace the third slide ring withone that is a better fit and recut the Contempora engraving which is very faint.

Regards, Stuart.
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Brassman19
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2022 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good. I am glad to hear it is playing and working out well for you.

I wanted to love and play my Contempora I owned, but it just didn't work out for me. That's why there are so many different horn makers, and models of horns out there, as one size does not fit all, nor work for everyone.

Larry
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yourbrass
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2022 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was a close relationship between Olds and Reynolds, the waterkeys are Olds, for example. it was common in the old days to buy parts from other manufacturers.
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