TromboneChat

[tr][/tr]Does anyone know the gauge of the older 9 1/2” and the newer 10” Holton TR-180 bells? Were they soldered or unsoldered?

I own several of the 9 and 1/2 inch flared instruments and one 10" instrument. Holton bass trombones were produced consistently inconsistient and each flare on my instruments is a different gauge.

WGWTR180 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 5:59 am I own several of the 9 and 1/2 inch flared instruments and one 10" instrument. Holton bass trombones were produced consistently inconsistient and each flare on my instruments is a different gauge.

so true. they took what they had.

My mid 70s tr180 appears to have a soldered bell, though very very little solder was used compared to my Shires tenor. I can't speak to the gauge of the bell, but I can say I find it to be quite resonant.

I've never seen a Holton bass with a soldered rim. Is it possible that yours has been modified?

Thanks for the answers.
I suppose another question is how do you tell if a bell is soldered? Is the solder visible as in the above photo? My other bells are a Conn 88h and an Edwards, both of which are unsoldered, so I don’t have a known soldered bell to look at.

SimmonsTrombone wrote: ↑Fri Apr 29, 2022 3:50 am Is the solder visible

yes

top: unsoldered red Holton (TR156, FWIW)
bottom: soldered yellow Bach

Thanks.

modelerdc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 28, 2022 11:56 pm I've never seen a Holton bass with a soldered rim. Is it possible that yours has been modified?

It certainly could have been at some point in its life. It came to me presumably standard with the original valves and glanz bar.

Maybe some of the other 180 owners here can have a look at their bells and chime in? Again, it looks like very little solder was used compared to my tenor or the Bach bell posted above, but its definitely there.

This may not be of much help, but I think all the TR-185s I've owned have had soldered rims. Two are from 1966 with 9.5in bells and close to consecutive serial numbers, and the third's from 1973 with a 10in bell. I assumed the 1973 185 had a flare and tuning slide from a 180 given their size/shape, and the valve wrap looked to be from a TR-183 (the slot in valve from one my 1966 185 fit the F tuning slide legs, but the valve wouldn't clear the main tuning slide).

1966 TR-185 #1 1966 TR-185 #2 1973 TR-185