Olds Register Photo Guide-

Fullerton Question 3

Model

Olds generally made both a trumpet and cornet version of each model. The model name is engraved somewhere on the bell along with “F.E. Olds & Son Fullerton Calif.”

In the event that the engraving is worn down or illegible and you cannot make out the model name, this photo guide will help you identify the model.

These are listed in order of most common to least common models.

Ambassador model

Engraving style changed three times during the Fullerton production era, but Ambassador is engraved on the bell in each style.

The Ambassador model is the only Olds model which had water keys (spit valves) that were operated on the underside of the instrument.

Special Model

During the Fullerton production, the Special model had three distinct versions. The older versions were generally all brass with minimal Nickel-Silver trim. The middle version is often called a “Tri-Color” model because it has some brass tubing, but a Nickel-Silver bell tube and a Bronze bell flare. The final version is a Nickel Plated instrument, silver in color, but Nickel plated. All versions have “Special” engraved on the bell.

Super model

Both the Super model trumpet and cornet are the only models produced in the Fullerton era with a Nickel-Silver “tone control band” sometimes referred to as bell garland. For the first five years or so of Fullerton production, this band continued to have “Los Angeles” engraved on it. Speculation is that Olds had a supply of these engraved rings prior to the move and simply used the supply on hand until they were exhausted in approximately 1960. If your Olds Super trumpet or cornet has a serial number higher than 145000, it was likely made in Fullerton.

Studio model

For much of the Fullerton production, the Studio models were lacquered brass instruments with a distinctive Nickel-Silver bell flare.

In the mid-1960’s the Studio model was changed to a Nickel-plated instrument with a first slide trigger.

Recording model

The Recording model has several features that are unique from other Olds models such as the offset middle valve and the Re-O-loy (red brass) bell, but for much of the Fullerton production, it has distinctive bell engraving.

Some Recording models were silver plated and at the end of the production in the late 1970’s the engraving style was changed.

Mendez model

The Mendez model is an all brass model with first and third slide spring loaded triggers.

Opera model

The Opera models were only made for a few years in Fullerton. Although there is a version with a brass bell, most Opera models were brass with a lot of nickel-silver trim and nickel-silver bells. It had a first valve slide trigger, but a standard push rod on the third valve slide.

Engraving on early models was on the lower part of the bell flare

Later engraving was move to the side of the bell tube at the start of the flare.

Super Star

The Super Star model was introduced in the early 1970’s and was one of Olds biggest selling professional models for several years. We’ve never seen a Super Star model that was not silver plated. Although it has Super in the name, it has nothing in common with the traditional Super model. It has octagonal top caps, bottom caps and finger buttons, a third slide stop rod and a unique design where all three valve pistons are interchangeable due to the location of the slide tubes coming out of the valve block.

Pinto model

A unique student model with a plastic valve casing and a removable bell.

Flugelhorn

Prior to the Clark Terry model flugelhorn, Olds made a Flugelhorn, sometimes labeled as an L-12 model beginning in the late 1950’s. Many, but not all Olds Flugelhorns had Re-O-loy (red brass) bells. The engraving was simply “Olds Fullerton Calif.”

Custom/Professional

The Custom model was offered with options for different bells and leadpipes. It was only made for a few years in the 1960’s. Later versions were called Professional models. The bell engraving was unique to these models “Custom Crafted by F.E. Olds & Son Fullerton Calif.” The Custom and Professional models were offered in Bb, C, D/Eb, and F.

Aida – Herald

Olds offered a Herald trumpet for several years. Some had the same bell material as the Studio model and others used the bell materials from the Special model, but the length makes it quite unique, even for Herald trumpets.

Clark Terry

The Clark Terry trumpet and flugelhorn were made for only two or three years at the end of Olds Fullerton production. One of the iconic features of this model is the large CT Medallion

A6/A6ST Ambassador cornet

The A6 or A6ST cornet was also called an Ambassador, but was a professional level cornet made in the last few years of Old for the British Band market. The A6 did not have triggers, the A6T had 1st and 3rd slide triggers. I’ve not seen one that was not silver plated, so most models are either an A6S or an A6ST. Only a few hundred were made.

Custom High Range

This model was made for a very short time in the early 1970’s. It is the only model Olds ever made with a tuning bell configuration. The normal tuning slide was fixed and could not be moved and tuning was done where the bell attaches to the valve block.