Rafael Mendez Ads

Rafael Mendez began his association with Olds in the late 1940’s when he was at the top of his popularity. For more than a decade, he was the prominent face of Olds advertising.

Here are some examples of Olds ads and promotions featuring Mendez.

Olds Ad from Down Beat July 15, 1949

The trumpet pictured is a Super Recording. Notice the forward “balanced” position of the valves, and the “tone ring” around the bell. The Mendez model trumpet was not introduced until (circa) 1952.

Another undated ad featuring Mendez. The trumpet has a trombone waterkey on the third slide and no brace on the tuning slide, so this might be a Super model trumpet with modified triggers added.

Another Ad featuring Mendez with mention of the Ambassador line – based on information on the other side of this ad, it appears to be circa 1950.

Mendez in the center photo of artists in the circa 1951 catalog

This is a page from the circa 1952 Olds catalog which introduced the new Mendez model, but in the photo, Mendez and his sons appear to be holding Super Recording models, which had been replaced with the Recording model a year earlier. The lower photo of Mendez appears to be the same photos showing modified Super trumpet that had been in previous ads.

Downbeat Ad – October 3, 1956

The French Besson, which was copied to make the Olds Mendez model:

Mendez appears to be holding his French Besson trumpet on this album cover.

An album cover showing Mendez with what appears to be a Super trumpet, perhaps with triggers added.

This may be the same Super with modified triggers.

Olds Mendez trumpet featured on an album cover.