Olds Register Form – Los Angeles

Please use this form to submit your Olds instrument made in Los Angeles (or with a serial number less than 145000 if you can not determine the location. This form is used to submit an Olds trumpet, cornet, or other brass instrument manufactured by the F.E. Olds and Son company in Los Angeles between 1929 and 1954 into the Olds Register database.

If you have an Olds trumpet that was made in Fullerton, please use the other form. If your Olds was made in Elkhart or anywhere else other than Los Angeles or Fullerton California, then it was made after 1979 and is NOT for inclusion in this database.

This form cannot accept attachments but if you would like to send us photos of your instrument, please email them to admin@olds-central.com

The first few responses are mandatory, but most of the responses are voluntary. We’ve included photos to assist, but If you are unsure of an answer, leave it blank and include what you can in the comments and we’ll try to assist resolving any uncertainties. We are asking for your email address to be able to follow up if needed.

YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.

If you have an update or additional information about an instrument already in the database, feel free to submit a new entry and just be sure to include comments. THANK YOU!

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Name *

First

Last

1. Serial Number (up to a 6 digit number) *

2. Instrument type (select one photo) *

• Trumpet – usually about 19 inches long
• Cornet – usually about 15 inches long
• Trombone
• French horn
• Baritone horn
• Mellophone
• Other (please specify on next question)

If your instrument is NOT listed above, please provide more information./a trumpet, cornet or flugelhorn, tell us more about it here.

3. Model (select one only) Your instrument may vary from the photos, but the name should be shown in a similar location as the photo. *

• Ambassador Model (“Ambassador” is engraved on the bell, but easiest to identify from its features)
• Special model (different styles of engraving, but “Special” will be engraved on the bell)
• Super model (a nickel-silver or brass ring around the bell with script engraving)
• Recording model (different engraving styles, but all have Recording engraved on the gold brass bell)
• Studio model (a brass bell tube with a nickel-silver flare)
• Standard model (“The Olds” model became the Standard in the mid 1930’s)
• Super Recording model (has the same nickel-silver or brass ring around the bell as the Super model, but also has RECORDING engraved on the bell or on the ring around the bell)
• Mendez model
• “The Olds” (the original model dating from 1929)
• French model (uncommon)
• Military model (may or may not have a hammered bell, but will have “Military Model” engraved on the bell.)
• Radio cornet (very rare)
• Aida Studio Model (Herald)
• Symphony model – very rare
• Other – some US Military issue instruments did not have model numbers. Please include comments

If your instrument is NOT one of the listed models, please provide more information here.

The remaining questions are optional, so if you do not want to provide more detailed information, you can go to the bottom of the form and submit, or you can fill out one or more of the remaining questions if you are able to provide additional information. Either way, THANK YOU for participating!

• I’ll provide more information
• I’m done and ready to submit (go to the bottom of the form)

4. FINISH of the instrument (most horns with a "gold colored appearance" are lacquered brass)

• Lacquered Brass (including raw brass) may have some nickel-silver components, but entire horn is not plated. Just because your instrument is “gold colored” doesn’t mean it is gold plated. It is very likely lacquered brass. Select this if you are not sure.
• Silver Plated
• Gold Plated (rare) If your instrument is “gold colored” it is likely lacquered brass.

5. What is the material used to construct the balusters? (upper part of the outer valve casing)

• All brass
• Nickel-silver (brass on lower half of casing)
• The horn is completely plated, so cannot determine

6. Which best describes the bell on your instrument?

• The bell is all brass
• It is a Super or Super Recording and has a Nickel-Silver Tone control band
• It is a Super or Super Recording and has a Brass Tone control band
• The bell is made of Re-O-loy (gold brass, typically the Recording models, but also found on some early models)
• The bell has a brass tube and a nickel-silver flare (some Studio models)
• The bell is plated or made of the same as the rest of the instrument (Silver or Gold)
• None of these really fit so I’ll provide additional comments

7. Select all features that apply to your instrument

• First valve slide saddle (or bracket for one)
• Third valve slide stop rod
• Main tuning slide brace
• Main tuning slide stop rod (or brackets for one)
• Hammered bell (rare and only on the very early models)
• Spring loaded first valve slide trigger (typically on the Mendez model)

8. Which best describes the waterkey on the 3rd valve slide (please note this question is only about the 3rd valve slide, NOT the tuning slide. Many models have a trombone waterkey on the tuning slide, but only older models will have this on the 3rd valve slide)

• There is not a water key on the 3rd valve slide (very early models and some cornets)
• The lever is operated on the side of the slide (trombone style -1940’s and older models)
• The lever is operated from the top side of the slide
• The lever is operated from the bottom of the slide (usually only the Ambassador model)
• The water key has been replaced with Amado or some other style

9. Which best describes the 3rd valve slide.

• It has an adjustable push rod/finger ring (most models)
• It has a spring loaded trigger (typically found on Recording and Mendez models)
• The push rod/finger ring is missing, but there is bracket to allow for a push rod/finger ring
• There is no method for adjusting the 3rd valve slide (some early models and some cornets; there may be a bracket for a lyre, but is not on a part of the slide that is removable)

10. Where is the most prominent location of the serial number?

• 2nd valve casing – right (just below the leadpipe) most common
• On the lower part of the valve casing (rare)
• On the bell flare (some early models and some US Military models)

11. Are there other locations where the full or partial serial number is located?

• serial number is only on the second valve casing
• valve piston spring barrels
• top of the valve stems (under the cork)
• underside of the top valve caps
• last two digits of the serial number on the inside of the valve bottom caps
• last two digits of the serial number on the inner slide tubes
• other locations – please include in the comments

Comments about the location(s) of the serial number

12. What is the Bore Marking? (found on the left side of the valve casing, typically only on very early instruments with serial numbers under 10000)

• No bore marking (typical)
• SYM
• M
• LM
• Something else – please note in comments

13. Comments about bore marking or bore size (if you are able to measure the bore size with calipers)

14. The mouthpiece receiver is a three to five inch piece where the mouthpiece is inserted. If there is something stamped or engraved on the mouthpiece receiver, or something else to describe your mouthpiece receiver?

• Nothing engraved or stamped on the receiver
• No receiver, the mouthpiece inserts directly into a brass leadpipe (some Special models)
• No receiver, the mouthpiece inserts directly in to a nickel-silver leadpipe (some Super Recording models)
• L – Stamped on the receiver
• S – Stamped on the receiver
• Something else, describe in comments

Please provide any comments to clarify any of the responses above or to describe any unusual features/modifications that are not covered by the questions above

Please describe any interesting history about the instrument including any information about when it was purchased or manufactured.

Email – optional but will allow us to contact you about any questions about your instrument. (will ONLY be used if there are questions about this submission unless you specify otherwise)

Email

Confirm Email

Centex Brass is the new sponsor of Olds Central and typically has a good inventory of vintage Olds trumpets and cornets in stock. If you would like to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter, please check here. You WILL NOT receive any contact from Centex Brass unless you request it. Also, we may send out updates about Olds Central and the Olds Register in the future, so you can opt in to this as well.

• Add me to the Centex Brass email list
• Send me future updates about Olds Central and the Olds Register
• DO NOT add me any email lists

Questions for us about the survey instrument or suggestions for improvement.

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