What is this?

[Ellefson]

Ok...ready...set...go!

What is this? Pitched in B-flat.

PE

[paulyg]

Valve trombone intended for an opera pit?

[Ellefson]

I was thinking the same. Makes sense. I hadn't seen one like it before. It has actually been in a case in my storage room for a few years. A colleague gave it to me and I never opened the case until today, when I was attempting some organizing.

PE

[mrdeacon]

Could that be a cavalry instrument?

[SlideCrook]

An Italian valve “trombone” with a “recording” bell with a Kranz. Without it’s period mouthpiece (the current 1920s trombone mouthpiece with that shank adapter probably isn’t) it probably is more useful on Trent Hamilton’s wall than in an ensemble. Expect a hell of a time trying to play in modern pitch


Edit: should have looked at who posted it. I was scared some kid was gonna buy one on eBay and mess around with it instead of actually practicing. Aren’t these instruments what Verdi wrote for when he was was writing for “trombone”? With the story behind it, I wonder if the rest of the section was playing similar similar instruments. What does the rest of the inscription on the Kranz say? I bought something similar 20 years ago (instead of practicing) with a straight bell and it had about two paragraphs of beautiful engraved text.

[Ellefson]

Nothing more on the Kranz, except ornamental engraving. I did find a more legible label on the end of the "slide." Also, 2nd valve must have been used quite a lot!

Quick search turns up Luigi Zelweger, who seemed to be a maker in Biella, Italy, starting around 1890.

Not a big deal, I was just curious and knew where to ask.

Thanks.

PE

[whitbey]

I have always thought a nice rotary valve section with a tuning slide that can be kicked would be a nice thing to have.
It would be great for those gigs where the trombones are stuffed in a nontrombone shaped space.

I like it.

[Thrawn22]

Cancer.

[Jnoxon]

It’s a cavalry horn! For playing on horseback. Google cavalry horn and I’m sure you will find many examples.

[WGWTR180]

Cancer.

?????????????????????

[mrdeacon]

It’s a cavalry horn! For playing on horseback. Google cavalry horn and I’m sure you will find many examples.

See that's what I thought! I had trouble finding examples though...

[Amconk]

Frankly, I think it’s cool as heck! I wanna play it!