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1940s Vintage Bundy Selmer Buescher Trumpet 'Swing' Era Collectible, Excellent!
Estimated price for orientation: 1 100 $
Category: Trumpets
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition
Rare 1940s Vintage
Bundy trumpet & Case for saleThis
is a very rare example of early Bundy trumpets.
George Bundy was a protégé of the Selmer brothers from the early 20th
century. He ran their store in New York
City in the 1920s and eventually developed his own musical instrument sales
business there. Bundy moved his business
to Elkhart, Indiana around 1930 while obtaining exclusive rights in the US to
distribute Selmer instruments made in Paris, and was able to sell his own
“Bundy” instruments under the Selmer name brand, and hence the Selmer Bundy
brand began. This particular trumpet is
marked on its bell with the engraving:Bundy Selmer Elkhart – Ind DistributorsIt is fairly well
established that Bundy began to make, or to have made for him by other
instrument makers in Elkhart, student model instruments in Elkhart around
1940-41. Other makers would have
included Buescher, Martin, Conn and a few more.
It is therefore very likely that this trumpet was made for Bundy to sell
under the ‘Bundy Selmer’ banner. My
guess is that this trumpet was made that way.
It is clearly modelled after the Buescher trumpet model 220 (1939): note
the reverse wrap tuning slide and the under slung position of the third valve
slide finger ring, and most notably the valve block and piston assembly. The only parts of this horn that don’t appear
to be Buescher parts are the bell braces:
these look like braces from 1940s Reynolds trumpets. The lead pipe is a complete mystery to me,
since it appears not to have a conventional mouthpiece receiver. It is possible that the horn was an early
prototype, or maybe even something that ‘dropped off the bench’ and was rescued
by an employee for his own amusement.
We’ll never know for sure. What
seems evident is that it was made in the likeness of a professional Buescher
model to be sold as a low cost competitor.
Or even made from parts Buescher sold to Bundy after the 220 model line
failed to gain traction in the market.This is a very
valuable collectible item for a collector of trumpets from the 1940s ‘Swing’ era. It plays very nicely (like a Buescher) with
good valve action, and has a very soft velvety tone. Intonation is good. Vintage unlacquered brass petina is classic
with crisp engraving on the bell. The
case is not original but is a sturdy hard wood box with suede leather covering
and features combination locks on each hasp that actually work.·
Bundy B-flat
trumpet (LP)·
Serial number 23439·
Measured bore
.445-inch·
Bell diameter
4.5-inches·
Bottom sprung valves·
Free moving
slides·
Low position 3rd
valve slide finger ring·
Reverse wrap
tuning slide·
Valve stems and
barrels marked with serial number on the block·
Burnished yellow
brass body no lacquer, dents or patches·
Lead pipe is
straight, no patches·
No stuck caps,
stems or buttons·
Vintage suede leather
covered case with combination locksPlease check out the following web sites:http://www.saxophone.org/museum/saxophones/manufacturer/1/history/0for more information about vintage Bundy and Selmer
business relationship and also for information about Buescher trumpets, go to Please ask
questions before bidding as all sales are considered final. Please see my return policy and eBay
feedback. If you want additional
pictures of the horn or case, please send me your request.Continental
US buyers can expect to pay a flat fee for shipping, handling and insurance
($40.00). US buyers not residing within
the continental area can expect to pay more depending upon their location. International buyers can expect to pay USPS
Global Delivery System charges to their country plus customs duties, fees,
taxes, and whatever else is required by their home country to allow entry. BUY IT NOW bidders will receive free
shipping to any location within the continental USA. International BIN bidders will receive a
credit of $40 towards the cost of the USPS International Priority Mail shipping
charge.
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition |
Rare 1940s Vintage
Bundy trumpet & Case for saleThis
is a very rare example of early Bundy trumpets.
George Bundy was a protégé of the Selmer brothers from the early 20th
century. He ran their store in New York
City in the 1920s and eventually developed his own musical instrument sales
business there. Bundy moved his business
to Elkhart, Indiana around 1930 while obtaining exclusive rights in the US to
distribute Selmer instruments made in Paris, and was able to sell his own
“Bundy” instruments under the Selmer name brand, and hence the Selmer Bundy
brand began. This particular trumpet is
marked on its bell with the engraving:Bundy Selmer Elkhart – Ind DistributorsIt is fairly well
established that Bundy began to make, or to have made for him by other
instrument makers in Elkhart, student model instruments in Elkhart around
1940-41. Other makers would have
included Buescher, Martin, Conn and a few more.
It is therefore very likely that this trumpet was made for Bundy to sell
under the ‘Bundy Selmer’ banner. My
guess is that this trumpet was made that way.
It is clearly modelled after the Buescher trumpet model 220 (1939): note
the reverse wrap tuning slide and the under slung position of the third valve
slide finger ring, and most notably the valve block and piston assembly. The only parts of this horn that don’t appear
to be Buescher parts are the bell braces:
these look like braces from 1940s Reynolds trumpets. The lead pipe is a complete mystery to me,
since it appears not to have a conventional mouthpiece receiver. It is possible that the horn was an early
prototype, or maybe even something that ‘dropped off the bench’ and was rescued
by an employee for his own amusement.
We’ll never know for sure. What
seems evident is that it was made in the likeness of a professional Buescher
model to be sold as a low cost competitor.
Or even made from parts Buescher sold to Bundy after the 220 model line
failed to gain traction in the market.This is a very
valuable collectible item for a collector of trumpets from the 1940s ‘Swing’ era. It plays very nicely (like a Buescher) with
good valve action, and has a very soft velvety tone. Intonation is good. Vintage unlacquered brass petina is classic
with crisp engraving on the bell. The
case is not original but is a sturdy hard wood box with suede leather covering
and features combination locks on each hasp that actually work.·
Bundy B-flat
trumpet (LP)·
Serial number 23439·
Measured bore
.445-inch·
Bell diameter
4.5-inches·
Bottom sprung valves·
Free moving
slides·
Low position 3rd
valve slide finger ring·
Reverse wrap
tuning slide·
Valve stems and
barrels marked with serial number on the block·
Burnished yellow
brass body no lacquer, dents or patches·
Lead pipe is
straight, no patches·
No stuck caps,
stems or buttons·
Vintage suede leather
covered case with combination locksPlease check out the following web sites:http://www.saxophone.org/museum/saxophones/manufacturer/1/history/0for more information about vintage Bundy and Selmer
business relationship and also for information about Buescher trumpets, go to Please ask
questions before bidding as all sales are considered final. Please see my return policy and eBay
feedback. If you want additional
pictures of the horn or case, please send me your request.Continental
US buyers can expect to pay a flat fee for shipping, handling and insurance
($40.00). US buyers not residing within
the continental area can expect to pay more depending upon their location. International buyers can expect to pay USPS
Global Delivery System charges to their country plus customs duties, fees,
taxes, and whatever else is required by their home country to allow entry. BUY IT NOW bidders will receive free
shipping to any location within the continental USA. International BIN bidders will receive a
credit of $40 towards the cost of the USPS International Priority Mail shipping
charge.