Uan Rasey's Olds Recording Trumpet
This trumpet could have possibly been heard by more human beings
than any other. I realize that this is a bold statement and would be
impossible to prove, so let me know your ideas for the worlds most
widely heard individual trumpet. This was Uan Rasey's favorite
trumpet for 26 years and was used for every important
performance, recording and movie sound track during that time. I
had a conversation with Uan about this trumpet and here is what he
told me:
"This Olds Recording model trumpet was made for me in 1949
shortly after I was hired by MGM. Ruth Dallas, who was Reg Olds
secretary and managed the factory for him, came by the studio to
ask us if we would play Olds trumpets. I said that I really liked the
Ambassador and could do good work with it. They wanted me to
play the new Recording model but I didn't like the valves forward or
the offset second valve, so they made me one using the
Ambassador valve section, the bell length the same as the Super and
the mouthpipe from the old Super Recording. When the trumpet
was finished, Ruth Dallas delivered it to me at the studio. I was
pretty hard on this trumpet, especially since I had to carry it while
using crutches, so the extra braces on the bell and mouthpipe were
helpful. I carried it in a gym bag with a gig bag and all my mutes.
Dominic Calicchio repaired this trumpet many times. One time I
dropped it just before leaving for MGM, smashing the bell. I
stopped by Calicchio and he straightened it so I could play the job.
He put patches on the bell where my left hand would wear through.
I would wear right through these patches and he would have to
replace them every year.
"This is the trumpet that I used on all those MGM dates, Billy Mays
band and many other jobs until 1974 when I switched to a King
Silver Flair trumpet, which I used for Chinatown. I used the Olds
for the first trumpet parts on American in Paris, West Side Story,
On the Town, Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Ben Hur,
Spartacus and all the MGM pictures during that time."
The over all length of this trumpet is 19 7/8" (18 3/4" from the bell
rim to edge of curve), the bell rim diameter is 4 11/16" and the bore
measures .460".
than any other. I realize that this is a bold statement and would be
impossible to prove, so let me know your ideas for the worlds most
widely heard individual trumpet. This was Uan Rasey's favorite
trumpet for 26 years and was used for every important
performance, recording and movie sound track during that time. I
had a conversation with Uan about this trumpet and here is what he
told me:
"This Olds Recording model trumpet was made for me in 1949
shortly after I was hired by MGM. Ruth Dallas, who was Reg Olds
secretary and managed the factory for him, came by the studio to
ask us if we would play Olds trumpets. I said that I really liked the
Ambassador and could do good work with it. They wanted me to
play the new Recording model but I didn't like the valves forward or
the offset second valve, so they made me one using the
Ambassador valve section, the bell length the same as the Super and
the mouthpipe from the old Super Recording. When the trumpet
was finished, Ruth Dallas delivered it to me at the studio. I was
pretty hard on this trumpet, especially since I had to carry it while
using crutches, so the extra braces on the bell and mouthpipe were
helpful. I carried it in a gym bag with a gig bag and all my mutes.
Dominic Calicchio repaired this trumpet many times. One time I
dropped it just before leaving for MGM, smashing the bell. I
stopped by Calicchio and he straightened it so I could play the job.
He put patches on the bell where my left hand would wear through.
I would wear right through these patches and he would have to
replace them every year.
"This is the trumpet that I used on all those MGM dates, Billy Mays
band and many other jobs until 1974 when I switched to a King
Silver Flair trumpet, which I used for Chinatown. I used the Olds
for the first trumpet parts on American in Paris, West Side Story,
On the Town, Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Ben Hur,
Spartacus and all the MGM pictures during that time."
The over all length of this trumpet is 19 7/8" (18 3/4" from the bell
rim to edge of curve), the bell rim diameter is 4 11/16" and the bore
measures .460".
Click on image for larger view.
If anybody has a photo of Uan
playing or holding this trumpet,
especially in the studio, please
contact me.
playing or holding this trumpet,
especially in the studio, please
contact me.