Martin Committee Model Designers

Tony Scodwell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1969

I studied with Renold Schilke in the early sixties and believe he told me he was one of the "committee" that designed the Martin trumpet of the same name. Who else might have comprised the group?
Tony Scodwell
Scodwell USA Trumpets and Flugelhorns
"Live In The Studio" by the Tony Scodwell Big Band now at CD Baby
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JetJaguar · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject:

According to http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/Martin%20Committee.html

The committee was:

1. Renold Schilke (who always claimed the horn was designed by a committee of one, him)

2. Vincent Bach

3. Elden Benge (Schilke and Elden built the early Chicago Benge horns in Schilke's garage, they were neighbors and Schilke had the machine tool experience)

4. Foster Reynolds (later he designed the Olds Mendez with Rafael)

5. A local player, presumably from the Chicago Symphony, since all these guys had strong ties to the symphony,
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece

I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com

Scorpion · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

This comes from wikipedia so its open to speculation

The first advertisement for the Martin Committee ran in the December 1, 1940 issue of Down Beat. It listed the committee as follows:

Fred Berman, popular radio staff star, probably the busiest trumpet player and teacher in Boston.

Otto Kurt Schmeisser, formerly with the Boston and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, now a successful teacher in Detroit.

Jimmy Neilson, Band Director and Instrumental Instructor, Oklahoma City University - an outstanding trumpet and cornet artist.

Dana Garrett, formerly cornet soloist of the Sousa Band - now first trumpet, Capitol Theatre, Washington, D.C.

Renold Schilke, one of the most highly skilled artists in America, first trumpet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Charlie Spivak, rated "tops" by everybody who knows - now heading his own fine combination.

again like I said, open to speculation.
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Retlaw · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:19 am Post subject:

Two different views that are published...are there any 90 year olds out there who know....

At the end of the day the only one who seems to have made a deal of it was Schilke...... I can't imagine Bach, Benge etc all sitting down together and agreeing how to build a horn.....I would imagine that there was consultation......who knows maybe for a healthy fee which would ease the issue of competition.

Whoever designed and built the Committee...certainly built the best jazz horn ever...........IMHO.....

Walter

swthiel · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:40 am Post subject:

_Daff · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 1431

More than one article reads

"Some have said that the Committee consisted of brass instrument makers Renold Schilke, Vincent Bach, Elden Benge, and Foster Reynolds. It is highly doubtful that either Bach or Benge would have helped the competition, as they were advertising their own instruments in the same magazine."

Then again, can't believe everything you read on the www
.

Smirnus · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

Tony Scodwell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1969

Schilke did the Yamaha design work early on for a substantial amount of money I've been told. He was producing his own horns by then, so money will talk on occasion I presume. Schilke continued to use Martin produced parts for many years as well in the early sixties. He would drive over to Elkhart every week in his Ford Galaxie 500 XL for a new batch of parts to be assembled by his three man workforce [including himself].
Tony Scodwell
Scodwell USA Trumpets and Flugelhorns
"Live In The Studio" by the Tony Scodwell Big Band now at CD Baby
Coming soon from Hal Leonard, the Tony Scodwell Big Band Play Along

lmaraya · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 620

bg · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

FWIW,

As far as I can tell, the only differences in the design of the Committee and
its predecessor, the Handcraft Imperial are; 1) the Committee has a different
leadpipe , 2)The valve block on the Committee is moved closer to the bell
bow, ala Besson, and 3) the Committee has very lightweight bell braces.

My suspicion is that Schilke designed the new leadpipe, and the Committee was merely a group of people asked to endorse the product.

Pics of Handcraft Imperials here:

http://www.bradgoode.com/index.php?mact=PicasaWebAlbumBrowser,cntnt01,default,0&cntnt01user=goodebradtrumpet%40gmail.com&cntnt01albumid=5205817059418319745&cntnt01imagethumbsize=&cntnt01albumthumbsize=&cntnt01imagesize=&cntnt01include=&cntnt01exclude=&cntnt01returnid=58

rolling360 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:27 am Post subject: law

Having owned several Lawler C7's and several Committees, I would have to say Roy Lawler make a great run for a modern style Committee.

Smirnus · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

shofarguy · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

Maybe Byron Autry knows. He's in his early eighties and apperantly knew some or most of those guys. Is there someone out there who talks to him regularly and could ask?

Brian
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper

There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

Robert Rowe · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

razeontherock · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:34 am Post subject:

While we're all scratching our heads, I'd love to know if there's any truth that Doc Reinhardt had anything to do with it's design ...
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"And this is life: that you know the Son, and the One who sent Him." The rest is just details

Biber · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

bg · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:

Hi Robt.,
I'd love to know the differences!

I have two 40's committees, and 3 30's H.I.'s.

When I play them side by side, they are similar in feel.
The major playing differences are: (by my estimation)
1) The Committee is horribly sharp on middle g and flat on tuning b.
2) The Committee does not project as well.
3) The Committee does not play as well(for me) in the extreme upper register.

Other than that, they measure identically with my digital caliper at points I'm
able to measure (slides, etc.) Does the Committee have a smaller bell tail?
The flares are the same.
My last three CDs were recorded on Handcraft Imperials. I've taken the Committees to the studio, but they sound
much worse on tape than the H.I.'s, and the blow is essentially the same.

Brad Goode[/quote]

JetJaguar · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

Was the HI a contemporary of the Committee, or a predecessor? And, was its manufacture farmed out to a different place, like Blessing, or same factory as the Committee?

thanks
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece

I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com

mpo · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 577

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