How many trumpets are produced?

[JimmyDamsgaard]

Does anyone know how many trumpets are produced each year?

[Quadstriker]

At least 10

[kehaulani]

[JimmyDamsgaard]

In other words: You no idea.

[Subtropical and Subpar]

I think it reasonable to assume somewhere in the five-figure range. The major brands make a few to several thousand every year, plus all the boutiques that make a few to a hundred horns per year, plus who knows how many horns come out of China and India. It's a broad range, but I think it fits. Under 10,000 seems too low; over 100,000 and I'm losing my ability to confidently guesstimate-cum-bullsh*t an answer. Not being an actual management consultant, I tend to have humility when talking out my backside
_________________
1932 King Silvertone cornet
1936 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
1958 Reynolds Contempora 44-M "Renascence" C
1962 Reynolds Argenta LB trumpet
1965 Conn 38A
1995 Bach LR18072
2003 Kanstul 991
2011 Schilke P5-4 B/G
2021 Manchester Brass flugel

[Bethmike]

So for the sake of a conversation, if we assume the amount actually is 10,000 new trumpets manufactured per year, does this mean:

A. There is a net increase of 10,000 new trumpet players each year?
B. There are 10,000 trumpets worn out and discarded each year?
C. There are 10,000 additional trumpets relegated to the closet each year?
D. Trumpet collectors have added 10,000 horns to collections?

What say you?

Mike
_________________
Bach190ML43
Kanstul 1001
Bach NY7
Yamaha 631 Flugel

[Subtropical and Subpar]

[LittleRusty]

[huntman10]

I will assume that most of the band instruments in the world go to the USA, because of our public education system, although I am also aware that many nations are more supportive of various arts. I could be wrong, and invite correction.

U S census reported 77 million public school students pre-COVID. Assume 12 grades plus kindergarten, so if we assume equal distribution evenly among the grades (I know, there is a varying degree of dropouts, etc.) about 6 million in each grade. So estimate about 1.6 million kids each year will be eligible for their school music program. I live In a real small town, which has a higher recruitment for extra curricular activities (but a really low income area as well) so I will guess that 10% of the kids generally will take instrumental music, and maybe 15% of those will play trumpet. So maybe 90,000 trumpet recruits.

Based on my own limited public school teaching, and my extensive experience buying and fixing horns for students, I will assume that the average trumpet these days will last about 3 years (averaging good stuff with "they don't make em like....", and a few that get stuffed into closets, as well as intentional demolition)whether bought new or used or rented, with average maintenance. So assume 33% to make up "the fleet" of student horns.

So my guess is about 33,000 US beginner horns. Maybe that many more for the rest of the world. I will stick my neck out here and guess that maybe 15% of the trumpet startup populations stick it out and upgrade. So maybe 13,500 upgrade, 50% new, 6,750 upgrade horns? Then why does the Bach serial number list go up about 25,000 a year? I guess worldwide?? Or guys like me with about 90 horns piled up.

This must be one of those "unknowables" that only the illuminati know.

Speaking of which, when will Getzen help us. I really like getting his outlook! Love his horns, too.
_________________
huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc.

[Bethmike]

[kehaulani]

I believe the true answer lies in processing the chance procedures from the Tao Te Ching.
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"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

[Christian K. Peters]

Hello all,
I think you can go to serial number lists, and get a ball park per brand. Boutique builders are going to have much lower numbers. You might get production numbers by contacting the smaller companies directly...That is if you really need to know. If you are doing a dissertation, you might get a helpful response, depending...
_________________
Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976

[Subtropical and Subpar]

[Christian K. Peters]

Hello,
Serial number lists are not usually published per year.
_________________
Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976

[LittleRusty]

[Bethmike]

[jeirvine]

Interesting question.

For fun, I estimate the number of trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns made by Olds at the LA shop at about 48,000:

1929-1946: serial numbers 1-15,000.

1946-mid 1954: SN 15,000 - 8,700: (at 15,000 serial numbers were merged with other brasses): I'm wildly guessing trumpets/cornets/flugelhorns at about a third of all brasses would mean an additional 33,000.

I wonder how many of them are still around and playable?
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1932 King Silvertone Artist Bore
1945 Buescher 400
1946 Olds Super
1947 Olds Super Cornet
1948 Couesnon flugelhorn
1951 Olds Special
1956 Martin Committee
1964 Olds Recording
1968 Bach 329 C
1996 Bach 37

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

Too many.

Much junk; especially Chinese .
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[Robert P]

A lot but that's just an estimate.
_________________
Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C

Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo

Chinese Flugel