How to Read a Bach Trumpet New York / Mt. Vernon Shop Card?
Vincent Bach began using simple note cards for the shop card records of each Bach Trumpet or Bach Trombone manufactured during the New York and Mt. Vernon eras. In about 1926, Bach started to standardize on the information included on each shop card. The same basic information was recorded; however, the format slightly changed during the years.
Trumpet shop cards are generally available through the 26, 726 serial number range.
Note:
The Elkhart factory (Main Street, early Industrial Blvd.) sites continued using shop cards through the mid 1970s, but did not include any details about the trumpet being manufactured. At that time, the bell was stamped with the model (37, 43, 72, etc.), as Bach Stradivarius trumpets had become standardized.
A vast majority (99% +) of the Elkhart-era shopcards are blank, with only the trumpet model produced. ie. 180, 180ML, C180, etc. These cards were only used for production scheduling.
There are no shopcards available from Conn Selmer for Elkhart-era trumpets, trombones, etc.
Requesting a New York / Mt. Vernon Shop Card copy
Bach trumpet shop cards are generally available for trumpets manufactured in the New York & Mt. Vernon eras. Do NOT request shop cards for bach instruments stamped Elkhart.
Trumpet shop cards are generally available through the 26, 726 serial number range from Conn Selmer.
Bach Shop Card - Trumpet Fields
Vincent Bach Corporation shop cards varied over time with the fields used by Vincent and the factory. This is a summary of shop card fields and instructions on reading the different variables on each shop card. Not all fields were complete for each serial number, but this general guide should help with the variations.
Field | Example(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
Serial Number | 1234 | The serial number of the instrument. |
Model | Stradivarius, Mercury, Mercedes, etc. | The model/brand of the Bach instrument. |
Valve Bore | S, SM, M, ML, L 0.453", 0.459, etc. | The bore measured at the 2nd valve slide. Examples can include either alphanumeric, or numeric bore size. |
Valve Model | A B C D E | The model of valve used. Examples can include A,B,C,D, or E type valve designs |
Valve Fit | ## -or- Tight, ... | The fit of the valves and slides of the trumpet. When number is present, it could be a measurement of pressure. (psi?) Examples can include Exceptional Tight, or Number |
Plating of Pistons est. 1950 | N.S. Chromium Monel | The type of piston used and plating if present. Examples can include N.S. (Nickel Silver), Chromium, or Monel |
Mouthpipe | 6, 7, etc. | The mouthpipe or lead pipe used on the trumpet. Examples can include 6, 7, 25, 43, etc. |
Bell Mandril | 6, 7, etc. | The bell model used on the trumpet. Examples can include 1 to 73 |
Bell Brass | Amer, G, etc. | The type of brass used on the trumpet; both mfg. & type. Examples can include G (German), Amer (American Brass Corp.) |
Gauge est. 1935 | 45 | The thickness of brass used Examples can include 45, etc. |
Finish est. 1935 | 1 1/2 | The various finishes available for the Bach instrument Examples can include 1, 1 1/2, 2, etc. |
Date Completed | MM/DD/YYYY | The date the instrument was completed. |
Date Sold | MM/DD/YYYY | The date the instrument was sold. |
Customer | various | The name of the customer / dealer. It was not uncommon for early Bach instruments to be bought & re-sold multiple times. |
Bach Shop Card - Trumpet examples (New York / Mt. Vernon)
Vincent Bach used various styles of shop cards from his first trumpets in 1925 to the last instruments manufactured in Mt. Vernon before moving to Elkhart in 1964.
Examples of Bach Trumpet shop cards from different eras are found below. Click on the shop card images to enlarge for easier reading.
# 2
circa 1925
Added: Serial Number Stamp
The first shop cards by Vincent Bach included his handwritten notes about the trumpet, as well as the name of the person to whom he sold the trumpet. Typically, during this era, Vincent did not initially record the date the trumpet was built or sold.
# 325
circa 1926
Added: ‘STRADIVARIUS MODEL’ stamp
The shop card included a ‘stamp’ with Stradivarius Model, so that Vincent could easily add the model (trumpet, cornet, etc.)
On the #325 trumpet shop card, Vincent’s handwriting included the details of the trumpet, and a second person wrote the name of the person to whom the trumpet was sold.
# 1314
May 9, 1929
Added: Standard Fields
Added: Model Stamp, ie. Stradivarius MODEL
By the late 1920s, Vincent had standardized his shop card information for the trumpets he was building. The model still included a stamp, so the shopcard could easily be used for Stardivarius, as well as other Vincent Bach brands of trumpets, such as Mercury and Apollo.
On the #1314 trumpet shop card, Vincent’s handwriting included the details of the trumpet and the name of the person the trumpet was sold to.
# 4117
Nov. 9, 1937
Added: Stradivarius Model
Added: Gauge
Added: Finish
By the late 1930s, Vincent continued to modify the shop card format, including adding the gauge of brass thickness used for the bell.
On the #4117 trumpet shop card, Vincent’s handwriting included the details of the trumpet, and a second person wrote the name of the person to whom the trumpet was sold. Vincent was still completing shop cards for each trumpet more than 10 years after manufacturing his Bach trumpets.
In a few examples, Vincent or the office would add notes to the shop card about the instrument or the customer. In this example, the customer had “spoiled” the valves, rendering the trumpet’s warranty invalid.
# 10028
Feb. 25, 1939
Added: Different Format for Mercury 1939 group?
For a brief period, Vincent Bach Corporation transitioned to this format for a batch of Mercury trumpets and cornets, before standardizing on it in approximately 1944.
Vincent Bach added a history of the instrument being bought & sold on the back of shop cards in the 10,000 range. This was later eliminated before moving to the next format.
# 15096
June 25, 1956
Added: Plating of Pistons
By the late …
By the 1950s, Vincent had a single person who was completing shop cards for each instrument manufactured. This handwriting is the most common from this era. Ocassionally, Vincent’s handwriting would be included on the shop card from this era, as Vincent would occasionally work/test an instrument, depending on the instrument or customer, like US Military bands.
Additional Bach Trumpet New York & Mt. Vernon Shop Card examples from different manufacturing eras can be found at Centex Brass.
Bach Shop Card - Trumpet examples (Elkhart - 1965 to mid 1970s)
The Selmer / Bach Elkhart factory (Main Street, early Industrial Blvd.) sites continued using shop cards through the mid 1970s, but did not include any details about the trumpet being manufactured. At that time, the bell was stamped with the model (37, 43, 72, etc.), as Bach Stradivarius trumpets had become standardized.
A vast majority (99% +) of the very early Elkhart-era shopcards are blank, with only the trumpet model produced. ie. 180, 180ML, 180CL, etc. These cards were used only for factory production scheduling.
There are no shopcards available from Conn Selmer for Elkhart-era trumpets, trombones, etc.
# 97775
1976
Added: Sold to and Returned.
Bach Shop Card - Trumpet examples (Elkhart - 2019/2020)
Conn-Selmer reintroduced shop cards briefly on the 190-series C trumpets built in 2019 as part of the Artist’s Select program. This example included the “trumpet tested by” in this shop card example, by Michael Sachs.
# 761641
Jan. 9, 2018
Added: This trumpet was tested by:
While not a “Shop Card” for a specific trumpet configuration, the product label attached to the shipping packaging of trumpets and trombones from the Conn Selmer Elkhart factory indicates the final date when the trumpet was finished and put into inventory.
These labels are attached to each instrument’s shipping box.
Note: If your dealer did not provide the box, ask them for it.
The following example shows a :
- (I) Item Number
- 17043 GYR = Trumpet Model #
- (S) Serial Number
- 789390 = Serial Number #
- 1230315 = Date (YYMMDD)
- 1 = Disregard
- 23 = year (2023)
- 03 = month (March)
- 15 = day (15th)
- Completion = March 15, 2023
source: shared by various Bach loyalists
