Title: Tenor Trombone

Maker: C. G. Conn

Model: 62H Duo-Bell

Date: 1921

Geography: Elkhart, Indiana, United States

Material: Brass

Serial Number: 188004

Accession Number: GL-064_A4-05

Provenance: Founding Greenleaf Donation from Conn Museum, 1969

Description

Key: B-flat

Pitch: Low

Finish: Silver-plated. Gold wash in both detachable bells.

Lacquer: No

Engraving: Engraved bell with “MADE BY / C. G. Conn Ltd. / ELKHART / -IND-” inside a banner shape, surrounded by floral decoration. The lines are engraved in a wavy/zigzag manner.

Mouthpiece: No

Accessories: Two bell flares that are interchangeable via screwing onto the bell section.

Case: No

Notes:

Unusual knurled slide grips―these might be an anomaly and not standard for this model.
Slide lock
Water key stamped with serial number.
Slide receiver stamped “62H”. Outer slide stamped with “62H” and serial number. Inner slide stamped with serial number.
The 62H Duo-Bell Tenor Trombone is described in the 1924 Conn Trombone Sectional Catalogue, pages 6 and 7:
- “The Duo-Bell Model Trombone is a new innovation in the Slide Trombone world and its sale has been most gratifying. There has been a tendency toward the evolution of Trombone combinations and the crying demand from trombonists for an instrument that would answer the purpose for both Band and Orchestra engagements resulted in this model. Many Orchestra Directors insist on a large bell Trombone regardless of the bore of the instrument, and others insist on a small bell provided the tone quality could be sufficiently broad.
  It might be said of the Duo-Bell that with the small 6 1/2-inch bell that it produces the most sonorous tone quality of any instrument thus far made with that size bell. Yet its quality is such as can be used most acceptably in Band. If the 8 or 8 1/2-inch bell is used it becomes the practical Symphony Orchestra instrument of unsurpassing perfection. The bells are detachable as will be seen in the illustration, and the screw rings on the bell have a tendency to “hold the vibrations” more intact, according to the opinion of Gardelle Simons, who is mainly responsible for the building of this model. The bore of the instrument is about the same as our Medium Bore Symphony and is built only in this bore. The smaller bell cuts short the vibrations while the large bell prolongs them and therein lies the main difference in tone quality of the two bells used on the same bore instrument. The Artists have all thus far agreed as to the difference and also as to the practicability of the Duo-Bell as a combination Slide Trombone for various styles of engagements.”
  “The Duo-Bell Trombone is used and sponsored by Gardelle Simons and artists of this class.”