Vincent Bach Trumpet Case Design Evolution
Various cases have been made for Bach trumpets, cornets, etc., over the years. These images show the evolution of these trumpet cases, with known examples from original instrument/case combinations or other markings such as patent dates on cases. Please get in touch with us through the website if you have additional examples to share.
The earliest Vincent Bach Corporation cases included the Bach New York “Star Burst” logo. This was first used by Vincent Bach in the 1920s, and the original logo drawing was signed by Vincent Bach on September 20, 1925.
In early Vincent Bach Corporation catalogs, Bach offered a De Luxe case option for trumpets, cornets, etc. They were described in 1928 as two options:
- Genuine Morocco Leather, silk plush lining. Elegant and substantial finish. Price: $20.00
- Professional case, covered with cotex, silk plush lining. Price: $12.00
It is very important to note that at the time (1928), the new Bach trumpet cost approximately $125. The cost of the cases would have been an expensive option for a trumpet player at that time.
This Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, serial number #67, also included an optional A rotary tuning slide that had a block to store in the trumpet case.
The “Vincent Bach” Corporation ribbon was also in a Times-style font, unlike other Vincent Bach script-style font silk banners used later in 1925 – 1926. The case has a royal blue interior, unlike other later Bach case examples.
source: from the Jeffrey Work collection
source: from the BachLoyalist collection
source: from the BachLoyalist collection
source: from the BachLoyalist collection
The patent number (US1717930) on the latch was issued in June 1929 to SOSY, Inc. of New York City. This would date Bach’s trumpet case example from 1929 to the early 1930s. Bach transitioned to a completely black case in the early 1930s, so this case would be close to the end of offering this case option.
Curiously, this case did not have the Bach Emblem on the outside of the case. No nail holes are present, so it would not have been applied. This was also when Vincent Bach Corporation was transitioning away from the Bach SunShine logo.
source: from the Jeffrey Work collection
source: from Fred Cirksena of Quality Brass.
source: from Fred Cirksena of Quality Brass.
In approximately 1930, Vincent Bach Corporation switched to using a stamped brass Bach Artisan shield on the outside of Vincent Bach’s trumpet and trombone cases. The same stamped shield was also attached in the inner lid of Bach cases.
This shield was eliminated in the 1970s, but returned to Bach trumpet and trombone cases in 2000s.
source: John Baber of Westborn Custom Trumpets
This example from 1938 was included with a Bach Stradivarius Eb/D trumpet, serial number #7020, and used a case similar to earlier New York-era cases from the 1920s. It is assumed that this type of case was used, as this was a speciality trumpet model.
source: from the Jeffrey Work collection
This early Mt. Vernon example includes the original Vincent Bach Corporation case cover, an optional accessory listed in the catalog.
source: from a Bach loyalist collection
