Flea Market Find Brass Horn

[Dave D]

I found this brass horn today at the flea market and plan to take it to the music store to see about getting the dents out. It has Brasso residue in the seams and I wonder if polishing it is now in order? Part of me thinks polishing will lead to more work keeping it looking good and the thought of the work involved to polish it is enough to keep me from wanting to do it anyway. What are your thoughts about polishing brass horns?

If anyone is interested, I will post a picture of it after the music shop is done with it. It is marked H & S, Hawthorne and Sheble. Any idea of the vintage? It is all brass and quite heavy.
Dave

[gramophone78]

You may want to read this thread....
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... +to+polish

[flashpanblue]

Hi Dave,
I would take it to a musical instrument repair shop and have the dents and creases taken out. You could then have it polished or choose to leave it with the old patina.
Pete

[outune]

Hi Dave- I don't know where you live-- but in an earlier forum discussion it was mentioned that John Duffy has purchased the music shop equipment to roll and straighten horns. I believe John is in Pennsylvania, but he's definitely an east coaster. I think having a phono collector do the work would add a level of carefulness, given that the brass on most phono horns is a good bit thinner than musical instruments. I haven't had him do any work for me yet, but he's been a well-known phono collector for many years. A forum search for John's name should turn up his contact info.

Brad

[Dave D]

Hi Dave- I don't know where you live-- but in an earlier forum discussion it was mentioned that John Duffy has purchased the music shop equipment to roll and straighten horns. I believe John is in Pennsylvania, but he's definitely an east coaster. I think having a phono collector do the work would add a level of carefulness, given that the brass on most phono horns is a good bit thinner than musical instruments. I haven't had him do any work for me yet, but he's been a well-known phono collector for many years. A forum search for John's name should turn up his contact info.

Brad

I took this horn to our local music shop on Monday and picked it up on Wednesday. I am pleased with the results. The huge dents are gone and the horn looks nice again. I did not want to spend the money to ship anywhere and back and I will use this shop again.
Attached is a photo of the repaired bell.
Dave

[m0xiemama]

It came really nice. I am a huge fan of a little imprefection. There is a story there. What a cool find!

[phonogfp]

Dave, you're a lucky man. Not only do you have a local resource to repair horns, but they did it in 48 hours???

Before my local guy moved out of state, he would take months - sometimes half a year to finish my horns. Then there were the surprise prices... His "estimates" meant nothing. I think if he had a big bill to pay, that would be the price. But at least his work was good...most of the time... Ah, the good old days!

Congratulations - the horn looks good now.

George P.

[Dave D]

Dave, you're a lucky man. Not only do you have a local resource to repair horns, but they did it in 48 hours???


Congratulations - the horn looks good now.

George P.

I guess I am lucky. The shop is 4 blocks from my house, the price is reasonable and the quality of the work is very good.
Dave

[Moooperator]

Dave, you're a lucky man. Not only do you have a local resource to repair horns, but they did it in 48 hours???

Before my local guy moved out of state, he would take months - sometimes half a year to finish my horns. Then there were the surprise prices... His "estimates" meant nothing. I think if he had a big bill to pay, that would be the price. But at least his work was good...most of the time... Ah, the good old days!

Congratulations - the horn looks good now.

George P.

Our local band shop rates are everywhere. Once I had a tea tray co. Horn rolled and soutering work done on a nickel plated columbia horn and it all was $12. Year later had a 50 cent gasket replaced on a flute and it was $48???