Early Olds Trumpets
The silver plated Olds trumpet pictured here, serial number
396, was featured on an earlier web page and was the
earliest Olds trumpet that I'd ever owned. When I was
recently able to acquire number 331, I naturally wanted to
give it its own web page, but realized that the most
interesting story is the comparison of the two instruments.
They are very similar, but have some interesting
differences. These two trumpet must have been built within
a year of each other, the later logged into Olds' books in the
first week of 1932, production of trumpets having begun in
1928. The over all dimensions of these two trumpets are
about the same: bell rim diameter 4 9/16", length with
mouthpiece removed 19 1/8" and bore measurement of
.453". The earlier is marked "M" on the second valve
casing and the later "LM". The only real difference
between the two models is that the "M" is slightly smaller
through the flare of the bell, giving it a noticeably bright
timbre when played with the same mouthpiece. The larger
bell gives a more cornet like sound, very much as we are
accustomed to in modern trumpets. The earlier trumpet
came with an early Old mouthpiece that is almost certainly
original to the instrument. The other mouthpiece pictured is
from the era but found separately. These both have A
change stop rods on the main tuning slides, but no provision
for mobile third slides as seen on later Olds trumpets.
Neither of these trumpets have original finish, but the silver
one is clearly a more deluxe instrument with artistically done
engraved decoration. Interestingly, the earliest Olds
trumpets tend to have "F.E. Olds & Son" hand engraved on
the second valve casings as seen on the earlier of these.
The most noticeable cosmetic difference between these two
trumpets was obviously a change in design seen in the valve
caps and buttons. With pistons removed, the difference is
also in the guide mechanism. The patent granted to Olds for
piston valve guide design on Sept. 1, 1931 illustrates the
earlier of these two. Once the later design was put into
production, Olds continued the exact design (apparently
never patenting it) until changing to a single pin/keyway
design in about 1952. The advantage of the single keyway
is that the valve can not be accidentally put in backwards
and it's interesting that Olds continued the two keyway
design for so many years. Perhaps they considered it
superior in that the square key or pin has a much larger
bearing surface on the slot in the piston's spring barrel,
which would surely wear more slowly. Other than that the
construction of both of these trumpets is the very high
quality that we are accustomed to in all Olds products.
Click on images for larger views.
396, was featured on an earlier web page and was the
earliest Olds trumpet that I'd ever owned. When I was
recently able to acquire number 331, I naturally wanted to
give it its own web page, but realized that the most
interesting story is the comparison of the two instruments.
They are very similar, but have some interesting
differences. These two trumpet must have been built within
a year of each other, the later logged into Olds' books in the
first week of 1932, production of trumpets having begun in
1928. The over all dimensions of these two trumpets are
about the same: bell rim diameter 4 9/16", length with
mouthpiece removed 19 1/8" and bore measurement of
.453". The earlier is marked "M" on the second valve
casing and the later "LM". The only real difference
between the two models is that the "M" is slightly smaller
through the flare of the bell, giving it a noticeably bright
timbre when played with the same mouthpiece. The larger
bell gives a more cornet like sound, very much as we are
accustomed to in modern trumpets. The earlier trumpet
came with an early Old mouthpiece that is almost certainly
original to the instrument. The other mouthpiece pictured is
from the era but found separately. These both have A
change stop rods on the main tuning slides, but no provision
for mobile third slides as seen on later Olds trumpets.
Neither of these trumpets have original finish, but the silver
one is clearly a more deluxe instrument with artistically done
engraved decoration. Interestingly, the earliest Olds
trumpets tend to have "F.E. Olds & Son" hand engraved on
the second valve casings as seen on the earlier of these.
The most noticeable cosmetic difference between these two
trumpets was obviously a change in design seen in the valve
caps and buttons. With pistons removed, the difference is
also in the guide mechanism. The patent granted to Olds for
piston valve guide design on Sept. 1, 1931 illustrates the
earlier of these two. Once the later design was put into
production, Olds continued the exact design (apparently
never patenting it) until changing to a single pin/keyway
design in about 1952. The advantage of the single keyway
is that the valve can not be accidentally put in backwards
and it's interesting that Olds continued the two keyway
design for so many years. Perhaps they considered it
superior in that the square key or pin has a much larger
bearing surface on the slot in the piston's spring barrel,
which would surely wear more slowly. Other than that the
construction of both of these trumpets is the very high
quality that we are accustomed to in all Olds products.
Click on images for larger views.
