| Reproductions of Historic Brass Instruments |
In the late 1970s when I got my first job repairing brass instruments,
American Civil War era instruments were already becoming valuable.
It was suggested to me that I could rearrange parts from junk
instruments to make the bell point backwards just like the re-enactor
bands wanted. I made my first replica brass instrument in March
1981 but it was important to me to use all new parts and make it look
as close as possible to an original. After the Olds factory closed in
1979, the contents were sold off. It seemed that there were Olds
parts everywhere so it isn't surprising that the first few instruments
were mostly Olds parts, including single French horn rotary valve
assemblies. The first was an Eb cornet with the bell over the
shoulder, using an Olds Bb trumpet bell. For the first several Eb
tubas, I utilized bass trombone valves, making for quite a small tuba,
similar so some of the originals. For many years, I've made a lot of
the parts myself, although most of the rotary valves are made for me
by Joe Marcinkiewicz. Some of the bells, slide crooks and tubing are
made for me by Zig Kanstul. The bells that I make are the soprano
Saxhorn (flugelhorn), Eb and Bb keyed bugles and some of the altos.
In a few cases, I must make all of the parts in my shop. These
include the keyed bugles and ophicleides and some other more
obscure projects.
With the exception of the very first cornet and two times that I
wanted a demonstration/sample instrument available, every replica is
made to order for the customer, often incorporating unique design or
specifications that are requested by the customer. An example would
be a copper bell rather than the usual brass. Some models that I've
made were never requested a second time, such as a four valve Civil
War era Eb tuba with the bell upright, although I've made more than
a dozen with the bell over the shoulder. Another very interesting and
never repeated project was an orchestral F trumpet, replicating the
famous model made by Courtois, with crooks for Eb and D.
Surprisingly, other unusual instruments were repeated, such as the
Eb contrabass ophicleide, of which I made two. In the last 28 years
I've made about 275 instruments encompassing more than four
dozen distinct models. The most commonly requested model is the
Eb soprano with bell over the shoulder with 21 examples and total in
all bell configurations being 38, including bell front, bell over the
shoulder, circular and bell upright.
I no longer make any of the larger instruments such as the tubas,
ophicleides, basses, baritones etc. I can't justify the more intense
labor involved in making these while my backlog of requests has
grown longer.
American Civil War era instruments were already becoming valuable.
It was suggested to me that I could rearrange parts from junk
instruments to make the bell point backwards just like the re-enactor
bands wanted. I made my first replica brass instrument in March
1981 but it was important to me to use all new parts and make it look
as close as possible to an original. After the Olds factory closed in
1979, the contents were sold off. It seemed that there were Olds
parts everywhere so it isn't surprising that the first few instruments
were mostly Olds parts, including single French horn rotary valve
assemblies. The first was an Eb cornet with the bell over the
shoulder, using an Olds Bb trumpet bell. For the first several Eb
tubas, I utilized bass trombone valves, making for quite a small tuba,
similar so some of the originals. For many years, I've made a lot of
the parts myself, although most of the rotary valves are made for me
by Joe Marcinkiewicz. Some of the bells, slide crooks and tubing are
made for me by Zig Kanstul. The bells that I make are the soprano
Saxhorn (flugelhorn), Eb and Bb keyed bugles and some of the altos.
In a few cases, I must make all of the parts in my shop. These
include the keyed bugles and ophicleides and some other more
obscure projects.
With the exception of the very first cornet and two times that I
wanted a demonstration/sample instrument available, every replica is
made to order for the customer, often incorporating unique design or
specifications that are requested by the customer. An example would
be a copper bell rather than the usual brass. Some models that I've
made were never requested a second time, such as a four valve Civil
War era Eb tuba with the bell upright, although I've made more than
a dozen with the bell over the shoulder. Another very interesting and
never repeated project was an orchestral F trumpet, replicating the
famous model made by Courtois, with crooks for Eb and D.
Surprisingly, other unusual instruments were repeated, such as the
Eb contrabass ophicleide, of which I made two. In the last 28 years
I've made about 275 instruments encompassing more than four
dozen distinct models. The most commonly requested model is the
Eb soprano with bell over the shoulder with 21 examples and total in
all bell configurations being 38, including bell front, bell over the
shoulder, circular and bell upright.
I no longer make any of the larger instruments such as the tubas,
ophicleides, basses, baritones etc. I can't justify the more intense
labor involved in making these while my backlog of requests has
grown longer.
Civil War Era Replicas
Keyed Brass
Other reproductions
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