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Description: This model was first made in 1910 and features a piston valve instead of the usual rotary valve to activate the valve tubing. The valve section is pitched in E; therefore the instrument has a fully chromatic range (including low B natural).
This instrument is serial number 126088, putting its date of manufacture in early 1912. The valve serial number is 125926. After its introduction as the "New Invention" bass trombone, it was later renamed the "New Wonder" bass trombone and, for a time, had the designation 14H. The trombone is in near mint condition; there are virtually no dents in the tubing or wear to the inner slide tubes. The bore size is .530/.550 - the bell is 9 inches in diameter. It is a "low pitch" instrument and plays at a=440. The entire instrument is gold plated (mostly satin finish, but the inside of the bell and the engraving are in a high lustre finish) and the slide tubes are solid nickel (not plated). This is an extraordinary, rare antique instrument made in the golden age of brass manufacturing by C. G. Conn in Elkhart, Indiana. See the photos below for additional details and information about the trombone. Also included with the trombone is a Conn/Kenfield bass trombone mouthpiece, designed by Leroy Kenfield, bass trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1900-1933.
History: In the course of researching this particular model of Conn bass trombone, I learned that The John Philip Sousa Band had a set of "low pitch" gold plated brass instruments made by Conn. Edward A. Williams, bass trombonist of the Sousa band from 1892-1917, used the "New Invention" bass trombone and endorsed it in Conn catalogs (for more about the Sousa Band and this model bass trombone, see photos below).
The Conn/Kenfield mouthpiece was designed and used by Leroy Kenfield during the late part of his career in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Kenfield played and endorsed Holton trombones during his early years in the orchestra, but later played Conn, at which time he developed the mouthpiece that bears his name. The mouthpiece is in excellent condition and is a valuable piece of bass trombone history.
The case for the trombone is not original; it has a case made for a Holton bass trombone of roughly the same era. It was modified by a previous owner to fit the Conn bass trombone and the case; with its purple velvet interior, it provides a striking visual setting and good protection for the trombone.
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Conn/Kenfield bass trombone mouthpiece |
Valve serial number |
Slide serial number |
Water key serial number |
"Bass LP" (low pitch) stamp |
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Slide stockings |
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Shown in the advertisement below is Edward A. Williams who was bass trombonist with John Philip Sousa's Band from 1892-1917. For the 1910 world tour of the Sousa band, Conn made a set of gold plated brass instruments pitched at A=440. As shown in this advertisement, E. A. Williams played this same model Conn bass trombone. The photo at above left shows Williams in the Sousa Band at the time of the 1910-11 world tour (the photo is from South Africa) - Williams clearly is holding his Conn piston valve bass trombone. Above, right, Williams is holding his Conn piston valve bass trombone c. 1915 (my thanks to MGySgt Michael Resslar of the United States Marine Band for these two photos of Williams with the Sousa Band and to Steve Dillon for the scan of the Conn advertisement). This trombone was NOT, to my knowledge, owned by Edward A. Williams; these photos simply show how highly regarded this bass trombone was in its time.
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