Quick Change to "A" Tuning Options
Vincent Bach Corporation offered quick-change to “A” solutions for its trumpet and cornet models.
First introduced in 1925, Vincent offered a “Rotary Valve” quick-change main tuning slide option to A on both the Stradivarius- and Apollo-branded trumpets and cornets. Also in the New York era, a “Draw Out” quick-change to “A” stop rod on the main tuning slide was available for Stradivarius, Mercury, and Mercedes trumpet and cornet models, later as a free option to dealers.
Below are catalog descriptions of these various options from New York to Mt. Vernon manufacturing eras. It is believed that this option was eliminated when the Vincent Bach Corporation moved to Elkhart in 1964/1965.
Quick Change to "A" - Rotary Valve tuning slide option
” Quick change to A slide with rotary valve quoted extra.
1925 Vincent Bach Corporation catalog
” Extra tuning slide with rotary valve quick-change-to-A
Price: brass finish $15.00; silverplated $18.00; gold plated $25.00
1931 Vincent Bach Corporation catalog
” Rotary valve quick-change to “A” in finish 1 or 1 1/2 $30.00
1956 Vincent Bach Corporation price list
Quick Change to "A" - "Draw Out" tuning slide stop rod option
Also in the New York era, Vincent Bach Corporation offered the option of a “Draw Out” Tuning Slide Quick-Change to “A” stop rod for easily & quickly adjusting the main tuning slide to the key of “A”.
This was offered on Bach Stradivarius, Mercedes, and Mercury instruments in the 1950s during the Mt. Vernon era, and was “free” if ordered before manufacturing.
” Draw out quick-change to “A” attachment on trumpets and cornets supplied free only when ordered with instruments – before instrument is lacquered.
1956 Vincent Bach Corporation price list.
source: CentexBrass.com
Did you know?
In addition to the main tuning slide to be modified to "A", the other slides on a trumpet or cornet also needed to be adjusted. In Vincent Bach's 1925 version of "The Art of Trumpet Playing," non-tuning slide measurements were provided.
Bb to A
- 1st slide 1/8″
- 2nd slide 1/16″
- 3rd slide 3/16″
Quick Change to "A" - Rotary Valve Suppliers / Manufacturers
Unknown Mfg. | 1925 ~ 1930
The rotary valve design, as shown in the examples (SN #67, SN #183) below, appears to be made by the same manufacturer. There seem to be at least 15 rotary sets, as indicated by the markings on the example below.
Martin Peter Workshop | mid 1930s
Vincent Bach sourced rotary valve assemblies for quick-change tuning in the mid-1930s from the workshop of Martin Albert Carl Peter in Markneukirchen. The correspondence included a rotary valve design with tuning ports & slide extensions, coming with a curved slide off the tuning slide ports. An example can be seen below on a Bach Stradivarius cornet from 1934. Vincent’s correspondence with this company is included in an article written by Edward Tarr, published in the Historic Brass Society Journal in 2011.
“Three letters written by Vincent Bach during this gap survive. They were addressed to the Markneukirchen brass instrument maker and rotary-valve specialist Martin Albert Carl Peter (1882–1945). In these letters, Bach ordered rotary valves for horns, quick-change valves for trumpets, and thumb valves for bass trombones. At that time, he was apparently not in a position to manufacture such components himself.”
The full article can be found at this link.
It is unknown how many sets Vincent ordered, but an extra dozen rotary quick-change type valves were ordered, in addition to rotary thumb valves for Vincent’s Bass Trombone orders in 1934.
Quick Change to "A" - Trumpet / Cornet Examples
Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, serial #67 (1925)
There are only a few known examples of the optional A rotary tuning slide, and this is the earliest slide (circa 1925) we have seen. This rotary valve & slides extending from it are in “one plane” and do not extend into a curved slide exit, unlike the Bach Stradivarius cornet example #2164 below.
This quick change to A rotary tuning slide was included with a Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet serial number #67. This optional tuning slide features typical Vincent Bach hexagonal bracing and a water-key assembly similar to those on other Vincent Bach instruments from the 1920s.
It is assumed that the number “3” is stamped in various locations on the rotary valve assembly to keep the assembly in order during manufacturing. See the example #15 below from 1928.
The hexagonal bracing was an element included on Vincent Bach instruments until the mid-1930s.
source: from the Jeffrey Work collection
Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, serial #183 (1928)
This quick change to “A” rotary tuning slide was included with a Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet serial number #183, and was in a lacquered brass finish + nickel trim (1 1/2).
This quick change to a rotary assembly on Bach Stradivarius #183 had number #15 stamped on the rotary valve assembly in the same locations as the earlier example.
source: from the Bill Cable collection
Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, serial #771 (1927)
This is an example of a “Draw Out” quick-change tuning slide stop rod on a Bach trumpet, serial #771. Note that the hexagonal posts which were original to the trumpet, with a replacement stop rod created by J Landress Brass in the original style
source: from the Bill Cable collection
Bach Stradivarius Bb cornet, serial #2164 (1934)
This is an example of a quick-change rotary tuning slide for a Bach Stradivarius cornet, serial number #2164, manufactured in 1934. The rotary valve used on this cornet matches the style and timeframe from Martin Peter’s workshop, described above.
This is the only known example of a Quick Change rotary to “A” for a Bach Stradivarius cornet.
This example is stamped with “11” on various portions of the rotary valve.
source: from the Bill Cable collection
Bach Stradivarius Bb cornet, serial #8255 (1948)
This is an example of a “Draw Out” stop rod quick-change rotary tuning slide for a Bach Stradivarius cornet, serial number 8255, manufactured in 1948. By the 1940s, the posts, including the draw-out stop rod, on Bach Stradivarius instruments had transitioned to circular (vs. hexagonal), as shown in this Bach Stradivarius cornet example.
source: from the Bill Cable collection
Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, serial #24069 (1963)
This is the last known example of a “Draw Out” stop-rod quick-change rotary tuning slide for a Bach Stradivarius trumpet, 180 model, serial number 24069, manufactured in 1963 at the Mt. Vernon factory. In 1964, H. & A. Selmer relocated instrument production to Elkhart, and quick-change “draw out” options were discontinued.
If anyone has an Elkhart example to share, please contact us through the website.
source: CentexBrass.com
source: Vinent Bach Corporation catalogs
source: from the Jeffrey Work collection
source: from the Bill Cable collection
