Bach Mouthpiece Lettering by Era
The best method to estimate the era of Vincent Bach’s mouthpiece manufacturing is to examine the font style used. While not perfect, this guide shows the progression of vintage to modern-era Vincent Bach branded mouthpieces. These key eras include:
- Early New York (Frank Holton / Bach) | 1916 – 1918
- Early New York pre Corp. | 1918-1922
- Early New York Corp. | 1922- mid 1920s
- Mid New York Corp. | late 1920s – 1940s
- Late New York Corp. | 1940s – 1953
- Mt. Vernon | 1953 – 1963
- Early Elkhart | 1963 – 1969
- Mid Elkhart | 1970 – 2000s
- Modern Elkhart | 2000s – present
Early New York era (FRANK HOLTON / BACH)
1916 - 1918
Before Vincent Bach started his mouthpiece manufacturing business, he played and endorsed Frank Holton’s trumpets from 1916 to roughly 1919. These are believed to be examples of BACH model Frank Holton trumpet mouthpieces from the Holton Chicago – era <April 1918) and the Holton Elkhorn era >April 1918).
Both these examples are hand-stamped, BACH. Learn more about Vincent’s instrument endorsements here: Vincent Bach Endorsements.
- FRANK HOLTON CHICAGO BACH
- Sans Serif typeface
- BACH
- ~ 1916 - 1918
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece is likely a Vincent Bach model Holton mouthpiece when Vincent played & endorsed Holton trumpets.
Frank Holton & Company moved to Elkhorn, WI, and operations began in April 1918. This mouthpiece would be estimated to be mfg. In the 1916-1917 time period.
- FRANK HOLTON ELKHORN, WIS BACH
- Sans Serif typeface
- BACH
- ~ 1918
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece is likely a Vincent Bach model Holton mouthpiece when Vincent played & endorsed Holton trumpets.
Frank Holton & Company moved to Elkhorn, WI, and operations began on April 12, 1918. This mouthpiece would be estimated to be mfg. in the 1918 time period, before Vincent manufactured his line of mouthpieces.
Early New York era (VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK)
1918 - 1922
Before Vincent Bach incorporated his business in 1922, there were a few known variations of Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces and the styles & font lettering of mouthpieces. These are some known examples from this early era of Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces. The first two examples use the same lettering font as the Frank Holton BACH branded mouthpieces.
Perhaps Vincent modified these Holton mouthpieces while experimenting with creating his own line of Vincent Bach-branded mouthpieces.
- VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK
- Sans Serif typeface
- n/a (Trumpet)
- ~ 1919
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece resembles the overall shape of a Vincent Bach mouthpiece, as he started to finalize the mouthpiece shape.
- VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK
- Serif typeface
- 1C (Trumpet)
- ~ 1918 - 1919
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece is likely a Vincent Bach personal trumpet mouthpiece, and its stamped V. B. is similar to other Vincent Bach personal mouthpieces.
The mouthpiece shape resembles Frank Holton Bach model mouthpiece blanks, so the assumption is that this was manufactured closer to the 1918 – 1919 time period.
- VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK
- Serif typeface
- 7 (Trumpet)
- ~ 1919 - 1922
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece is an example where Vincent started to standardize the outer shape of his mouthpieces,
- VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK
- Serif typeface
- 7 (Cornet)
- ~ 1919 - 1922
Note:
This Bach mouthpiece is an example where Vincent started to standardize the outer shape of his mouthpieces,
Early New York Corporation era (VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK)
1922 - mid/late 1920s
As Vincent Bach incorporated his business in 1922, there were a few variations of Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces and the styles & font lettering of mouthpieces.
These are some known examples from this early New York Corp. era of Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces.
Variation 1 (Most Common)
- VINCENT BACH., NEW YORK
- Sans Serif typeface
- 7CW
- > 1922
Note:
Variation 2 (Less Common)
- V BACH CORP. NEW YORK
- Sans Serif typeface
- 7CW
- > 1922
Note:
This was another ‘stamp’ variation of Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces during this period. Vincent was shortened with just a V.
Perhaps, there was not enough space to include everything and the model number on the stamp.
Mid New York Corporation era (VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK)
Mid 1920s - 1940s
As Vincent’s mouthpiece continued to grow, in the mid-1920s, he moved to a more standard stamping of Vincent Bach Corp. using a fixture for a consistent marking and a hand stamp for the specific mouthpiece model number.
It is said that the die was damaged in the mid- to late 1920s, resulting in the “O” in CORPORATION not fully stamping. Multiple examples of this damage suggest that this was not fixed until the new font/dies were used in the 1940s.
The mouthpieces below are fine examples of this mid-New York Corp. era of lesser-known mouthpiece models, such as the Mellophone and Trombone Jazz models.
- VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
- Serif typeface
- 12
- 1930s
Note:
Mellophone style blank.
- VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
- Serif typeface
- Jazz models
- 1930s
Note:
Trombone model examples of the Jazz Model – Small, Jazz Model – Medium, and Star mouthpieces.
Late New York Corporation era (VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK)
1940s - 1953
In the 1940s, Vincent Bach again changed the stamping die font on his brass mouthpiece models. While it is not known when this exact transition took place, it is estimated to be in the most WW2 era.
- VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
- Sans Serif typeface
- 17C2
- late 1940s
Note:
The 17C2 Trumpet model later became the 10.75EW model. (10 3/4 EW)
- VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
- Sans Serif typeface
- Star model
- 1940s
Note:
Star Trumpet model
Did you know?
“Sometime during the Mt. Vernon years (1953-1963), he started leaving the (.) off. It simply said, “Vincent Bach Corp.” Sometime after Selmer bought the Bach Company, (after 1963) they started putting the (.) back on..”
Tedd Waggoner
Conn Selmer
Mt. Vernon era (VINCENT BACH CORP., MT VERNON, NY)
1953 - 1963
As Vincent moed his manufacturing to the new Mt. Vernon plant in the Fall of 1953, he kept the same sampling die font, and simple changed “New York” to Mt. Vernon.”
- VINCENT BACH CORP. MT. VERNON N.Y
- Sans Serif typeface
- 3C
- late 1950s
Note:
An early Mt. Vernon example, with periods in place.
- VINCENT BACH CORP MT VERNON NY
- Sans Serif typeface
- 6 Cross
- early 1960s
Note:
The use of the CORP(.) period appears to have been removed in the early 1960s.
6 Trumpet Model, with Cross symbol stamp with a 24 backbore.
This example did NOT include a period after CORP or after MT in Mt. Vernon.
Early Elkhart era (VINCENT BACH CORP)
1963 - early 1990s
As Bach mouthpiece manufacturing was transitioned to Elkhart, the “Mt vernon” was simply removed from the stamping die. After some time The Selmer Company started adding the CORP. with a “.” back to the mouthpieces. It is unknown when this happened, but most likely when a new stamping die was manufactured. It is estimate that happened in the early 1970s. (before 1976)
- VINCENT BACH CORP
- Sans Serif typeface
- 3C
- late 1960s
Note:
- VINCENT BACH CORP
- Sans Serif typeface
- 1C
- late 1960s
Note:
- VINCENT BACH CORP.
- Sans Serif typeface
- 3C
- 1970s
Note:
Note a “.” was added to Corp.
Did you know?
“In the early 1990s (I think around 1993 or 1994), we started manufacturing mouthpieces ‘sans’ ( or without) the word “Corp.”.
The business was no longer a Vincent Bach Corporation since it had long been swallowed up by the Selmer / Magnavox / North American Phillips / Integrated Resources / Kirkland-Messina deals.”
Tedd Waggoner
Conn Selmer
Mid Elkhart era (VINCENT BACH)
1994 - 2000s
In approximately 1994, the word “CORP.” was removed, simply becoming a “VINCENT BACH” mouthpiece. During this period, there were a few variations of the lettering font & size used in Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces.
Below are known examples from the BachLoyalist collection.
- VINCENT BACH
- Sans Serif typeface
- 5C
- ~ 1994 - 1997
Note:
The use of “Corp .” was removed from Bach mouthpieces in approximately 1994.
- VINCENT BACH
- Sans Serif typeface (Large Font)
- TBD
- ~ 1997 - 2003
Note:
The font used on Vincent Bach mouthpieces switched in 2007 to a larger font.
Modern Elkhart era (VINCENT BACH)
2000s
As Elkhart factory added automation and CNC machining capability, there were additional models created and fonts used on each. Below are known examples, can be purchased by Conn-Selmer dealers.
- VINCENT BACH
- Sans Serif typeface
- n/a
- >2005
Note:
Original BachLoyalist Bach Mouthpiece Lettering table
Timeframe
Lettering
Image
circa 1920’s
VINCENT BACH, NEW YORK
circa 1920’s
VINCENT BACH CORP. NEW YORK
7C
note Serif font
circa 1930’s
VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
note Serif font
1936
VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
note Serif font
circa 1940s
VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
7
note Serif font
circa 1940-’53
VINCENT BACH CORP., NEW YORK
7
note Sans Serif font
circa 1953-’59
VINCENT BACH CORP. MT. VERNON N.Y.
2-1/2C
note loose “,”
note fraction symbol
circa 1960-’64
VINCENT BACH CORP MT VERNON NY
1-1/2C
note loose “.” on MT & NY
note fraction symbol
circa 1960-’64
VINCENT BACH CORP MT VERNON NY
circa 1965-’69
VINCENT BACH CORP
1C
circa 1994-’96
VINCENT BACH
1 1/2
circa 1970s
VINCENT BACH
1 1/2 C
circa 1980s
VINCENT BACH
1 1/2 C
circa 1997-’03
VINCENT BACH
note larger font
circa 2004
VINCENT BACH
1-1/2C
note small font
circa 2007
VINCENT BACH
1-1/2C
source: Used with permission from TrumpetJunkie.com 
