Bach Stradivarius 1925 - 2025
Below is a summary of the background of “Stradivarius” being used on Vincent Bach branded instruments. The first Bach Stradivarius Trumpet was sold on May 1, 1925, and now more than 800,000 Bach Stradivarius trumpets have been manufactured over the past 100 years.
We continue to update this page as additional history is discovered.
There are a few different versions of the story of how “Stradivarius” and Vincent Bach added to his trumpets. Below are the known stories found in media, within Vincent Bach’s biography, and other Vincent Bach Corporation publications.
Urban Legend Version
” This is a real ‘Stradivarius’ of a trumpet”, but wouldn’t put down the money. ( New York professional trumpet player, 1925)
– Vincent Bach, Musicus Vacabundus
” Looking for published examples from the 1920s.
source: BachLoyalist research, various Vincent Bach branded literature.
The first use of Stradivarius was on May 1, 1925 on a Bach trumpet. The trademark was filed for all musical instruments, but primarily used on Bach Stradivarius Trumpets and Bach Stradivarius Trombones, and for a few years on a Bach Stradivarius French Horn model.
- Brand: Stradivarius
- First Use: May 1, 1925
- Filing Date: August 14, 1925
- Registration Date: March 16, 1926
- Status: Active (Current Owner: Conn Selmer)
The Stradivarius trumpet shop cards did not record the date, but we assume the 1st Stradivarius trumpet was manufactured on May 1, 1925, at the East 41st Street factory location.
Learn more about the other Vincent Bach trademarks used through the years, at this link.
source: USPTO database
It is interesting to align Vincent Bach’s personal history timeline and business activities using the trademark “Stradivarius” starting in 1925 on Bach Stradivarius trumpets, and later Bach Stardivarius trombones by the Vincent Bach Corporation.
Vincent meeting and marrying Esther Helen Staab was clearly aligned with the introduction of the use of “Stradivarius” on Bach trumpets. Esther was described as Vincent’s marketer by many persons, including Vincent.
Date | Vincent Bach | Vincent Bach Corp. |
|---|---|---|
28 August 1924 | Final Engineering Drawings for 1924 Model, Bach Trumpet | |
September 1924 | 1st Bach Trumpet advertisements | |
9 Nov. 1924 | Met Esther Helen Staab | |
Jan. / Feb. 1925 | Vincent stopped advertising Bach trumpets. | |
29 April 1925 | Married Esther Helen Staab | |
April - May 1925 | Traveled on honeymoon to Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Washington D.C. | |
1 May 1925 | 1st Commercial Use of "Stradivarius" | |
14 August 1925 | Trademark Filing Date - "Stradivarius" | |
September 1925 | 1st Bach Stradivarius Trumpet advertisements | |
16 March 1926 | Registration Date - "Stradivarius" | |
“To Esther Bach, the linguist and advertising promoter of Vincent Bach, the artists, and designer of Bach instruments, who both collaborated, laying the foundation for the undimished success of today’s Vincent Bach Corporation.”
– Charlie Bickel, CEO Selmer
– Vincent Bach, 1975 (for their 50th Wedding Anniversary)
source: USPTO, Vincent Bach personal history, BachLoyalist research.
Vincent restarted advertising his Bach trumpets, with the start of September 1925 to introduce the Bach Stradivarius model trumpet & cornet.
THE CHOICE OF GREAT ARTISTS
These extraordinary trumpets are in a class by themselves, as is demonstrated by their phenomenal success. They approach perfection to a degree never conceived as possible in a brass instrument. The new BACH TRUMPET is a very Patrician among instruments of music. From beginner to finished artist, every trumpet player can immediately note how remarkably the BACH TRUMPET excels in tone quality, intonation, even and perfect register, easy blowing, faultless tuning and volume of tone, The workmanship is superb.
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Vincent Bach Corporation
237 East 41st., New York, N.Y.
source: International Musician, Sept. 1925
