E.M. Winston, MT. Vernon & E.K. Blessing

[Mike-ICR]

I just received the dealer catalog from a distributor and was surprised to see the E. K. Blessing name listed. As I flipped through I found that Blessing offers an almost complete (no Tuba, Baritone, Euphonium or bari sax) line of concert instruments as well as a marching line. The same goes for E.M. Winston (with no marching brass) and MT. Vernon seems to offer only trumpets. I've never seen or heard about E.M. Winston or MT. Vernon instruments and I didn't know Blessing was still in business (for themselves). Do any of you know anything about any of these instruments, companies, quality or playability?

[Tuba Guy]

Last winter I was able to pick up a Blessing marching trombone. It's a great little horn, and I've gotten compliments that it sounds just like a trombone (it was excerpts class, and I was doing Holst's tenor tuba parts for the Planets).
For my particular horn, it works very well with a shallower mouthpiece. Gets a little edgy at times, but actually works pretty well with the Marcinkeiwitz jet tone or other small piece. Doesn't quite work with a shaved down 1.5G.
Also seems to collect dents somewhat easily, and (this is probably just a problem with mine because the leadpipe came unsoldered from the brace) the 1st valve slide hits the main tuning slide sometimes. But aside from that (and being banned from playing it in band), it's an awesome little horn

[jacojdm]

St. Louis Music is now the owner of the Blessing brand.

[iiipopes]

Did Blessing finally sell? I thought they were still family owned?!

[Mike-ICR]

According to their we site (which may or may not be up-to-date) Blessing is owned by Randy Johnson, E. K.'s great grandson.

[Dan Schultz]

Last I heard... Blessing is still alive and kicking... in Elkhart. No tubas though. They discontinued the B-450 tuba and all of the parts a few years ago.

[Mike-ICR]

Thanks for commenting, Dan. Do you happen top know anything about the build quality or playability? Have you worked on any? Do you know if their woodwinds are also American? Their site makes it sound like they only "make" brasswinds in Elkhart.

[ASTuba]

They make their own flutes and all the brass. The clarinet and sax were made by Jupiter's parent company (KHS), but my information was from about 3 years ago. The brass was ok, nothing great, but it was fine. My biggest issue was the lacquer that burned very easily, causing re-soldering to a bit more of a pain than normal. Hope this helps!

[Dan Schultz]

Thanks for commenting, Dan. Do you happen top know anything about the build quality or playability? Have you worked on any? Do you know if their woodwinds are also American? Their site makes it sound like they only "make" brasswinds in Elkhart.

I don't know anything about their woodwinds, but all of the Blessing brass I've ever encountered has been a good value. Especially their B-88 trombone which is a 'dead ringer' for the Conn 88-H trombone. In fact... the slides will interchange.

[Mike-ICR]

Wow! Thanks folks. This is exactly the kind of input I'm looking for. The lacquer and build quality issues are a little off putting but, for the price, they seem to offer a reasonable product. Thanks for all the comments!