Trombones
7.1 - Alto trombone | 7.2 - Tenor trombone | 7.3 - Tenor trombone | 7.4 - Tenor trombone | 7.5 - Tenor trombone | 7.6 - Bass trombone | 7.7 - Bass trombone | 7.9 - Bass trombone | 7.10 - Tenor trombone | 7.11 - Tuning slide | 7.12 - Tuning slide
Terminology and Glossary | Cataloguing Standards
| Catalogue number: | 7.1 |
| Original name: | Alto trombone in E flat. |
| Maker: | M & S Hyam. |
| Place of origin: | England, late 19th century. |
| Overall size: | 818mm, bell diameter: 142mm. |
| Sounding length: | 2008mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.3mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.3mm; ascending slide, 11.3mm; joint, 11.3mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.5mm. |
| Technical description: | This may have been a tenor trombone cut down to a high-pitch alto instrument (rather than lengthened to a low-pitch tenor) No water key on slide. This is the only known instrument by Hyam, there is no evidence that this is the same as the Manchester-based company J Higham (see 7.3). No slide water key or main body tuning slide. Slide-body screw lock. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: “M. & S. HYAM”. |
| Faults: | A few minor dents on bell-piece. Slide is not moving freely. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 440 Hz. |
| Repair history: | Slide freed up May 2008. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here |
| Previous collection numbers: | B: Item 89. |
| Collection assignation: | Key Collection. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.2 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone in B flat. |
| Maker: | Peerless Co. |
| Place of origin: | Birmingham, c.1913-1950. |
| Serial number: | 514. |
| Peerless was the successor to Birmingham firm Gisbourne (c 1839-1913). | |
| Overall size: | 1102mm, bell diameter: 141mm. |
| Sounding length: | 2600mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 9.8mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.4mm; ascending slide, 11.4mm; joint, 12.3mm; valve tuning slide: 11.5mm-12.9mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.7mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass, decorative ferrules on end of slide, and bell stay (other stays original by not decorated). |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: “P.C” (enclosed in ornate motif) / “PEERLESS Co. / MAKERS / 51 / SHERBOURNE ROAD / BALSALL HEATH / BIRMINGHAM / ENGLAND” / [motif]. |
| Faults: | Cracks: considerable denting mid way up bell water key at foot of slide. No slide screw on bell-piece. Main body slide badly dented and bent. Inner tuning slide stay has come dethatched. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 440 Hz. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here |
| Previous owner: | Lancelot Key. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 91. |
| Collection assignation: | Key Collection. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.3 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone in B flat. |
| Maker: | Joseph Higham. |
| Place of origin: | Manchester, c.1842-1923. |
| Serial number: | 175 (found on slide), 48470 (on bell). |
| Joseph Higham (1818-83) established his important brass instrument factory at Strangeways in Manchester in 1842; by 1893 over 46,000 instruments had been produced, the workforce then numbering over 90. The address in the inscription does not narrow down the date the instrument was made. | |
| Overall size: | 1100mm, bell 152mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.5mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.2mm; ascending slide, 11.2mm; joint, 11.2mm; valve tuning slide: 11.9mm-13.8mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.9mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass with silver plated decorative ferrules. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: “B.S.M” (Birmingham School of Music); engraved on Bell: “IMPROVED / CLASS / [motif: lion & unicorn crest] / EXHIBITION / PRIZE MEDALS / AWARDED / TO / J. HIGHAM / MAKER / 127. STRANGEWAYS / MANCHESTER / ENGLAND / 46470” / [motif: lion & unicorn crest (larger)]. |
| Faults: | Needs new cork on water key. Slide does not move easily. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 465 Hz (high pitch). |
| Previous owner: | Dr Desmond MacMahon. Presented 1950. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 77. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.4 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone in B flat. |
| Maker: | Hawkes & Son. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1890-1900. |
| Serial number: | 7745 [on bell]. |
| Overall size: | Slide: 778mm; main body: 699mm, bell diameter: 150mm. |
| Sounding length: | 2699mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 10.6mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.4mm; ascending slide, 11.4mm; joint, 11.4mm; valve tuning slide: 11.6mm-13.1mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.4mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass with silver plating. Decorative ferrules. Water key on slide. Repair to outer slide stay, joint. main body tuning slide is not original. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on bell: “EXCELSIOR / CLASS / HAWKES & SON / 28 / Leicester Square / LONDON”. |
| Repair history: | Restored August - October 2000 by Paul Wilde. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 450 Hz but uncertain due to the mis-matched slide. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.5 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone in B flat. |
| Maker: | Boosey & Hawkes. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1936-37. |
| Serial number: | 147424. |
| Overall size: | 1158mm, bell diameter: 158mm. |
| Sounding length: | 2746mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 10.6mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.2mm; ascending slide, 11.2mm; joint, 12mm; valve tuning slide: 12.5mm-13.2mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.5mm. |
| Technical description: | The slide of 7.4 matches 7.5 in design but it has a narrower than 7.5. Originally high pitch. This instrument is in very good condition and plays very well. Slide-body screw lock. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: (inside floral design) “Artist’s Perfected” / [motif: hawk carrying a bugle] / “Boosey & Hawkes / Ltd / Makers / 295 Regent St / London [--]”. |
| Repair history: | Restored August - October 2000 by Paul Wilde. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 440 Hz. |
| Specific references: | Boosey and Hawkes archive, accessed via Myers, Arnold: Journal of Surviving Boosé, Boosey and Boosey and Hawkes brass instruments, with archival and catalogue data (www.galpinsociety.org/gdsj.html). |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.6 |
| Original name: | Bass trombone in G. |
| Maker: | Antoine Courtois & Mille. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1878-1880. |
| Overall size: | 1429mm, bell diameter: 194mm. |
| Sounding length: | 1838mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.7mm; ascending slide, 11.6mm; joint, 11.6mm; valve tuning slide: 13.6mm-18mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 12.2mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass, decorative stay ferrules. Original main body tuning slide but evidence of alteration. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: (motif: medal: “MÉDAILLE / DE / 1RE CLASSE / EXPOSITION / UNIVERSELLE / 1855) / Médaille / LONDRES 1862 / Exposition Universelle / PARIS 1867 / Médaille d’Honneur / EN ERGENT / ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE / MILLE SR ./ FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL / 88rue des Marais St. Martin / Paris / 1LR PRIX / GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR/EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU / 1878 / S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL / Sole agent / 52 New Bond Street / London”. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 440 Hz. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 70a or 70b. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.7 | Original name: | Bass trombone in G. |
| Maker: | F Besson. | ||
| Place of origin: | London, c.1897. | ||
| Overall size: | 1308mm; bell diameter: 203mm. | ||
| Sounding length: | 3006mm. | ||
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.7mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.7mm; ascending slide, 12.5mm; joint, 12.3mm; valve tuning slide: 13.7mm-18.6mm. | ||
| Technical description: | Brass with silver lacquer, cranked bell-stay, wooden slide handle. | ||
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: “CLASS / A / 50 MEDALS OF HONOUR / FB / BESSON & CO. / ”Prototype” / 198 EUSTON ROAD / LONDON” / [motif: 5-pointed star]. | ||
| Faults: | Slide does not move freely, silver plating is badly worn. | ||
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 464 Hz (high pitch). | ||
| Illustration references: | See below. | ||
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.8 |
| Original name: | Contra-bass trombone in C. |
| Maker: | Boosey & Co. |
| Place of origin: | London, 1896. |
| Serial number: | 48257. |
| Overall size: | 1224mm; bell diameter: 243mm. |
| Sounding length: | 5398mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 12.7mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: first descending slide, 12.7mm; first ascending slide, 14.7mm; second descending slide: 15.6mm; second ascending slide: 16.3mm; joint, 18mm; valve tuning slide: 18.3mm-20.6mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 13.7mm. |
| Technical description: | New tuning slide made for B flat Nominal pitch. Double slide with gradated bore. First descending inner slide has been replaced. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on Bell: “CLASS A / [motif: bugle] TRADEMARK / BOOSEY / BOOSEY 7 CO / MAKERS / 295 REGENT STREET / LONDON”. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 466 Hz (high pitch). |
| Specific references: | Boosey and Hawkes archive, accessed via Myers, Arnold: Journal of Surviving Boosé, Boosey and Boosey and Hawkes brass instruments, with archival and catalogue data (www.galpinsociety.org/gdsj.html) |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Previous owner: | Lancelot Key. |
| Previous collection numbers: | A and B: Item 95. |
| Collection assignation: | Key Collection. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.9 |
| Original name: | Bass trombone in G. |
| Maker: | F. Besson. |
| Place of origin: | London, c.1870-73. |
| Serial number: | 634 (on joint socket, outer slide). |
| Overall size: | 1339mm. |
| Sounding length: | 3182mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.3mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.1mm; ascending slide, 12mm; joint, 12.2mm; valve tuning slide: 12.8mm-17.1mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 12.3mm. |
| Technical description: | Slide with water key and wooden handle. Body tuning slide with sleeves (51.5mm long) for swapping between high and low pitch. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on “[motif] / F. BESSON / [?] / 198 EUSTON ROAD / LONDON”. |
| Cases, etc: | Wooden case, possible original. |
| Repair history: | Lacquered. |
| Associated with item: | Redfern mouthpieces 13.15 and 13.16. |
| Previous owner: | Philip E. Redfern, donated 2003. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 446 Hz. |
| Illustration references: | See below. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.10 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone in B flat. |
| Maker: | Metzler & Co. |
| Probably made in France imported to Germany, late 19th century. | |
| Overall size: | with high-pitch tuning slide: 1019mm; with low-pitch tuning slide: 1063mm. |
| Sounding length: | 2494mm. |
| Bore: | c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.2mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.4mm; ascending slide, 11.9mm; joint, 11.7mm; valve tuning slide: 12.2mm-14.3mm. |
| Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: | 11.5mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass, silver plated. Spare tuning slide (high pitch). Water key on slide. A number of repair patches: on bell flange, three on main body. |
| Inscription: | Engraved on the Bell: “Metzler & Co. / LONDON & PARIS”. |
| Faults: | The bell is slightly bent at the start of the flange, near connecting pipe. |
| Usable pitch: | Plays at a’ = 445 Hz (a’ = 466 Hz with high pitch tuning slide). |
| Associated with: | Mouthpieces that are in the bag may fit the other Redfern instruments - posthorns. Mouthpiece 14 only works. |
| Recording references: | Click here. |
| Previous owner: | Philip E. Redfern, donated 2003. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.11 |
| Original name: | Tenor trombone main body tuning slide. |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably England, late 19th century. |
| Bore: | 11mm-12mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass, silver plated. |
| Catalogue number: | 7.12 |
| Original name: | Tenor or bass trombone main tuning slide. |
| Maker: | Unknown. |
| Place of origin: | Probably England, late 19th century. |
| Bore: | 13mm-13.3mm. |
| Technical description: | Brass. |