Olds Register Photo Guide-

Fullerton

Question 9 Balusters

The balusters are the upper part of the valve casing. Olds used a two piece valve casing. There are generally two types of material used for the balusters:

Brass – The balusters are brass, the same as the lower part of the valve casing.

The Ambassador and Mendez models, as well as the Custom, Professional and Clark Terry models have brass Balusters.

Nickel-Silver (an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel) Many Olds models had nickel-silver balusters with brass on the bottom part of the valve casing. Typically the Super, Recording, and Opera models had nickel-silver balusters as well as some versions of Special and Studio models.

Plated finish: If an instrument has been plated, then it is likely impossible to tell what material was used for the balusters under the plating.

One Olds model, the Pinto, actually has a plastic valve casing.