Earl Williams Trumpet
The trombones made by Earl Williams are well known to
most serious trombone players, but few know that he also
made trumpets. The reason for this is obvious, since he
made very few trumpets and during a very difficult time in
his career. Williams had worked for F.E. Olds around 1915
and established an excellent reputation repairing and
customizing brass instruments during the 1920s. In 1928, he
and Spike Wallace, trombonist with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic and otherwise busy professional, formed a
partnership for manufacturing Williams and Wallace
trombones. Judging by the earliest Williams and Wallace
trombones that I have seen, Earl Williams was up to the task
of building quality instruments. The Great Depression was a
hard time for such a small shop and when the partnership
broke up in 1936, Williams went back to mostly repairing.
He had to move to a smaller shop that he rented from Harry
Garlock, a woodwind repairman. It was during these years
that he started making trombones signed with his own name
and when this trumpet was made. I spoke with Harry
Garlock in the 1980s at which time he told me that Williams
bought the valve sections from a maker back east and made
the rest himself. He also told me that Williams would walk
to the engraver, just a few blocks away, when the
instruments were ready for finishing.
At the time that I purchased this trumpet, I was told that it
was the last of 12 trumpets that Williams made and the serial
number (1012) would lend credence to that idea. The
Williams and Wallace trombone serial numbers were in the
mid-three digits at the end and it makes sense to start a
trumpet series with 1001. This valve section might have
been made by E.K. Blessing in Elkhart and some Rudy
Muck trumpets (a small maker in New York City) appear to
have the same assembly. The valve caps and buttons might
lead you to think that this was made by Olds, but closer
inspections rules this out. The only other Williams trumpet
that I have seen has a valve section and other parts that look
very much like standard Blessing parts. That one has a five
digit serial number and the engraving looks very much like
this one. This evidence would refute or confuse the idea that
his trumpets were #1001 to 1012, but whatever the facts,
they are very rare trumpets. As always, I invite others with
corrections and additions to contact me. The bore of this
trumpet measures .462", the bell rim diameter is 4 5/8" and
the over all length is 19 5/8" (19 1/4" from bell rim to bell
curve.
most serious trombone players, but few know that he also
made trumpets. The reason for this is obvious, since he
made very few trumpets and during a very difficult time in
his career. Williams had worked for F.E. Olds around 1915
and established an excellent reputation repairing and
customizing brass instruments during the 1920s. In 1928, he
and Spike Wallace, trombonist with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic and otherwise busy professional, formed a
partnership for manufacturing Williams and Wallace
trombones. Judging by the earliest Williams and Wallace
trombones that I have seen, Earl Williams was up to the task
of building quality instruments. The Great Depression was a
hard time for such a small shop and when the partnership
broke up in 1936, Williams went back to mostly repairing.
He had to move to a smaller shop that he rented from Harry
Garlock, a woodwind repairman. It was during these years
that he started making trombones signed with his own name
and when this trumpet was made. I spoke with Harry
Garlock in the 1980s at which time he told me that Williams
bought the valve sections from a maker back east and made
the rest himself. He also told me that Williams would walk
to the engraver, just a few blocks away, when the
instruments were ready for finishing.
At the time that I purchased this trumpet, I was told that it
was the last of 12 trumpets that Williams made and the serial
number (1012) would lend credence to that idea. The
Williams and Wallace trombone serial numbers were in the
mid-three digits at the end and it makes sense to start a
trumpet series with 1001. This valve section might have
been made by E.K. Blessing in Elkhart and some Rudy
Muck trumpets (a small maker in New York City) appear to
have the same assembly. The valve caps and buttons might
lead you to think that this was made by Olds, but closer
inspections rules this out. The only other Williams trumpet
that I have seen has a valve section and other parts that look
very much like standard Blessing parts. That one has a five
digit serial number and the engraving looks very much like
this one. This evidence would refute or confuse the idea that
his trumpets were #1001 to 1012, but whatever the facts,
they are very rare trumpets. As always, I invite others with
corrections and additions to contact me. The bore of this
trumpet measures .462", the bell rim diameter is 4 5/8" and
the over all length is 19 5/8" (19 1/4" from bell rim to bell
curve.
Click on image for larger view.
