
Before and After: Olds Special Trumpet 1955 - Antique Gold Epoxy Lacquer
We have been on a path of discovery in our shop. A discovery of how absolutely awesome the instruments were, that came out of the F. E. Olds & Sons factory between the late 1940s and the early 1970s. We are discovering that the horns made in that era possess the build quality, playing characteristics, aesthetic beauty and the sound quality of the top modern horns on the market today. After all these years, we have also found that these horns have retained these qualities.
We offer this 1955 Olds Special Trumpet. The Special model, by Olds was considered a mid-level horn. However, it was made with the same quality and attention to detail as the top of the line instruments made by Olds. An excerpt from feolds.com: According to R. Dale Olsen, who was R&D director at Olds in the 1960s, the company was a “one tolerance shop,” meaning that all brass instruments (regardless if it was student line or the professional line instrument) were crafted to the same close tolerances, regardless of price or market niche.
In the Olds Special, some of the key features of the top of the line (Recording model) were brought to this instrument. One such key feature is nickel-silver outer slide tubes to eliminate the corrosion that occurs when two copper tubes are in contact. The design choice of using this material is why we can offer a vintage 65 year old horn that is in near factory condition. In comparing the Olds Special to the professional line Olds trumpets, such as the Mendez: the tubing was the same, the bell mandrels were the same, the valve clusters were the same. All of the key components and design specifications were the same. To be able to segment the Olds Special at a lower price, suitable for the "mid-range" market, certain other features were omitted, such as slide triggers, offset valves (which were significantly more labor intensive to fit on the Recording), pearl accents on the valve slide nubs, elaborate instrument cases and expensive alloy materials used for the bell and leadpipe.
This horn plays and sounds fantastic. Starting with the leadpipe venturi, it measures at .349" which is equivalent to a Bach 25o (fairly large) which provides excellent response and exceptional intonation throughout the range of the horn. The bore is ML at .460" throughout the tubing, the valve section and the bell tail. The bell is medium-heavy weight with a long bell tail which provides some good compression against the rather open leadpipe. An open feel to the blow, but with enough resistance feel to maintain endurance. The valve action is light and fast.
The sound has a core that is not small and not large (versatile) and projects when you need it and blends with a section when you need it. The most unique sound characteristic of this horn is the ability to project a dark and sultry sound rich with overtones at all dynamics. The upper register is easy and those rich overtones come alive at higher volumes.
This horn is aesthetically gorgeous, but we'll let you decide from the pictures. We finished this horn in a multi-step process applying a brushed patina on the brass then finished with a gold epoxy lacquer and brushed the nickel-silver finishing with clear epoxy lacquer.
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