colocrank
Three Spring Motor
The kid with the most toys wins the game
Posts: 114
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Post by colocrank on Jan 17, 2009 1:51:13 GMT -6
I have quite a few brass belled horns, mostly Victors. I see dents and dings and it drives me nuts. They didn't leave the factory that way and I would like them back to the way they should be. I have tried to contact many musical instrument stores around the area, none of which are comfortable to work on "antiques". I have heard all the stories of someone finding a good instrument repair person who can roll and polish the horn back to what it should be, but how do you find a local person with the skills to do it? Is it a matter of throwing $$ in their direction to attempt it?
With shipping charges of shipping a horn back and forth, it gets quite costly and you worry about damage each way. Have any of you actually witnessed the process of what it takes to roll out the dents and bring it back? Overall these are just minor dings or dents, not severe crinkles or breaks in the brass. What kind of skills or tools does it take to bring a horn back to life?
I know many people justify it as "patina" or charm or age, but dents is dents and I don't like them ! If I had a tree fall on my truck I'd have it repaired, old or new.
Any ideas or opinions?
Thanks, ColoCrank
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Post by style6 on Jan 18, 2009 0:54:25 GMT -6
I can understand many musical instrument repairers being a bit hesitant to work on antique brass. As brass ages, it can become very brittle & it can often result in more damage than when you started. Apparently annealing can help, but it's no guarantee.
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maginter
Two Spring Motor
Always looking for a Columbia 820
Posts: 51
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Post by maginter on Jan 18, 2009 6:05:04 GMT -6
There is a music store in Indianapolis that I use that does great work. These guys have a roller that will do a tuba and they are reasonably priced.
Best way to find out how good someone is or who does this work s to that to the band teachers at your local schools. Students are clumsy with instruments and they are contantly needing repaired.
Mark
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Post by MTPhono on Jan 18, 2009 22:21:07 GMT -6
Colo -
I ran into the same issue here in Montana. Fortunately the guy was hungry so he eventually took one of my less important horns and returned it as new. He has since fixed 20 or so. He even took on a 26" aluminum horn and did wonders.
I suggest you find a guy who buys rough instruments, repairs and re-sells them to high school students in the fall. They typically have so much experience they are primed for all-brass horns.
Good luck in your search.
MT
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colocrank
Three Spring Motor
The kid with the most toys wins the game
Posts: 114
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Post by colocrank on Jan 20, 2009 1:28:19 GMT -6
Thank you all for your opinions. I guess I just need to try local instrument specialists a bit more and maybe hope with the economy down they may be more willing to give an attempt to do some simple dings and dents and see where it leads to. I just didn't want to have the additional costs of shipping things out of the area for minor repairs. I'd be very interested in the actual process of seeing what it takes to roll out the brass.
Thanks again.
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Post by Moooperator on Jan 20, 2009 9:20:21 GMT -6
It must have been a Victor horn.
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Post by MTPhono on Jan 20, 2009 9:39:03 GMT -6
Hey Colo, Speaking of brass-belled horn repairs, here is a blast from the past! I bought the horn on the right from you a few years ago. I had to have the handle moved back to the proper location and had the whole horn de-dented and polished. It is stunning in person (and one of my favorite horns). Regards, Scott
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gerald
Three Spring Motor
Posts: 222
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Post by gerald on Jan 20, 2009 21:13:29 GMT -6
I would check with your local middle or high school band teacher. Ask him/her to tell you where instruments are repaired locally and try that person. If repair persons are reluctant to work on an "antique", I might fail to describe it as an "antique phonograph horn" and simply call it a "phonograph horn". I know it's obviously an antique but it's worth a try. You should be able to find a local person to do the job. Good luck, Jerry (Oregon)
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