FOR SALE IS A TROMBONE, BY F.E. OLDS & SON, MANUFACTURED IN BETWEEN 1912 AND THE 1930\'s. THIS TROMBONE IS SILVER-PLATED AND FEATURES A GOLD-WASHED BELL. THE SERIAL NUMBER (ENGRAVED ON THIS INSTRUMENT IN FOUR PLACES,) IS 15074. THE HORN IS IN WONDERFUL CONDITION WITH A FEW VERY MINOR DENTS (SEE PHOTO,) AND SLIGHT FINISH WEAR, HOWEVER, THE INNER SLIDE TUBES ARE IMMACULATE. THE BELL IS ENGRAVED WITH \"U.S.\" ON THE SHIELD AND WE AREN\'T CERTAIN WHY.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A NEW BRASS PART (SEE PHOTO,) WHICH IS LIKELY DUE TO A SOLDER JOINT COMING UNDONE. THE CASE HAS BEEN CHANGED, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE OLD CASE, BUT THIS IS SPECULATION. THE TROMBONE HAS BEEN LOOKED OVER BY ONE OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND PLAYS GREAT.
THE FOLLOWING IS INFORMATION FROM WIKIPEDIA ABOUT THE F.E. OLDS & SON COMPANY.
Frank Ellsworth (F.E.) Olds was born inMedina, New Yorkin 1861. He was named for theCivil Warhero Frank Ellsworth of the Ellsworth Zouaves. While a child his family moved toToledo, Ohio. After finishing high school, F.E. went toElkhart, Indianato work forC.G. Connand learned thebrass instrumentmaking business. In 1885, he moved toLos Angeles, California. An amateur trombone player and entrepreneur, he first set up a shop to build bicycles, which was the only one in Los Angeles at the time. By 1886, he had established the firstelectroplatingshop in Southern California, doingsilverplatingwith H. T. Hazard, establishing the Los Angeles Tool Works by 1887. 1886 also marked the arrival in Los Angeles of F.E.\'s future bride, Helen Daisy Birdsall. In 1901, he was amachinistwith the Locomobile Company of the Pacific, branching out from bicycles to automobiles.
All along experimenting with trombone design, he was repairing band instruments full-time by 1910. This early work was done in a small workshop behind his house, which was just south of downtown Los Angeles. It was probably about this time that he first offered his new trombones for sale. Implementing new ideaspatentedin 1912 (some of these are incorporated in trombones today), Olds started producing quality trombones on a small scale. From the earliest years, he was offering a variety of bore sizes (.485\" and dual bores from .494\"/.509\" to .509\"/.535\") and bell diameters from 6\" to 9 ½\". Model designations were Solo, Small Medium, Medium, Large Medium, Large and Symphony, which did not indicate a particular bore and bell combination, but a relative size. Most Olds trombones were made to order at this time. These new trombones apparently met with success quickly, and with the help of Earl Strickler and Earl Williams, Olds expanded production to about 200 a year and moved into a large facility by the early 1920s.
Reginald Birdsall (R.B.) Olds (b. September 11, 1899) came to work with his father in 1920, having served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. With R.B.\'s enthusiasm, Olds published their first catalogue in 1925 and introduced new models shortly after. It was about 1924 that Olds started makingmouthpieceswithivoryrim and cup and the trademark \"Golden Bear\" playing the trombone was first engraved on the bells. R.B. was most likely responsible for using the slogan: \"It\'s a Bear\", and otherwise modernizing the image of the company and its products. Also, during these years, they were working on trumpet design, finally tooling up for its production by 1928.
On October 9, 1928, F.E. was traveling with his wife and other prominent Californians on the S.S.City of Los Angeles(later commissioned,USSGeorge F. Elliott) to South America. He died suddenly and unexpectedly, suffering a heart attack, and was buried at sea. His new trumpets were not offered for sale until after his death.
R.B. introduced cornets soon afterward. The Super Olds line of trombones, trumpets and cornets was introduced in about 1932 and soon became legendary. Other models introduced in the 1930s include the Special, Military, Symphony and French Models. All but the Super models could be ordered with a distinctivehammeredfinish on the bell. This was the standard finish for the Military line. The Superbass trombonecould be had with two valves, both actuated by levers. This is likely the first production bass trombone with two valve levers.[citation needed]There were also somefrench hornsmade in the late 1930s, although they didn\'t appear in the catalogues at that time. The Recording model trumpet and cornet were probably designed shortly before the war halted production. During World War II, the government had Olds producesaxophonesalong with the more standard strategic production. Today these are very rare as they were not generally available to the public and a large number of them went down with a supply ship in the Mediterranean. By 1941 Olds held al least six patents for trumpet and trombone design.
WE REALLY PREFER CREDIT CARDS BY PHONE. IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WE WILL TAKE PAY PAL BUT MUCH RATHER PREFER CREDIT CARD BY PHONE. OUR PHONE NUMBER IS 315-253-6259. WE ARE ABLE TO PROCESS THE SALE MUCH FASTER AND EVERY MAJOR CREDIT CARD OFFERS THE SAME PROTECTION THAT PAY PAL DOES. OUR SHIPPING INCLUDES INSURANCE.
SPENO MUSIC, INC. HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 65 YEARS. WE ARE A FULL-LINE MUSIC STORE SPECIALIZING IN GUITARS, BASSES, TUBE AND SOLID STATE REPAIR AS WELL AS ALL BAND AND STRING INSTRUMENT REPAIR AND SALES. WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE FIRST MUSIC STORE IN THE NORTH EASTTO START ABAND INSTRUMENT RENTAL PROGRAMIN THE 1950\'S. WE ALSO OFFER A VARIETY OF ACCESSORIES FOR ALL YOUR MUSICAL NEEDS! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT315-253-6259. OUR HOURS ARE MON-FRIDAY 10:00-5:30 ,THURS 10:00-6:00&SATURDAY 10:00-4:00 EST
WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY buyers WITH response OF 5 OR LESS! YOUR offerS WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELEY! YOU MUST CONTACT US BY PHONE BEFORE offerDING ON THE ITEM IF YOU DO HAVE 5 OR LESS. INSURANCE IS INCLUDED WITH ALL SHIPPING COSTS
CONTINENTAL USA ONLY!
