TROMBACELLO - Graves & Co (NH) c. 1845

[bisontuba]

Yes, that's a horn I found 9 miles from where I once lived & found it in an old barn....had it restored and was part of my collection 'till the Museum acquired it from me ....
Mark

[tbn.al]

How did you stumble on this museum piece? How about giving us the "rest of the story". Were you just snooping around in a neighbor's barn in the middle of the night or what?

[ginnboonmiller]

How did you stumble on this museum piece? How about giving us the "rest of the story". Were you just snooping around in a neighbor's barn in the middle of the night or what?

I'm really just guessing here, but I bet This rare trombacello was discoverd in May 1990, in a barn in Lawtons, Erie County (western New York State), still stored in its original wooden case, filled with old shirt sleeves for padding. Mark R. Jones, a brass instrument collector in the area, purchased it from a descendant of a farmer named Levi A. Taft (born Danby, Vermont, November 21, 1836-died Brant Center, Erie County, New York, 1910). According to family history, the trombacello may have been played by Levi and/or his Quaker father, Phineas, who moved his family from Vermont to Collins, Erie County, sometime after 1833, remaining there until his death on September 1, 1865. Following its purchase, Jones had the instrument restored to playing condition by Robb Stewart of Arcadia, California.

It is likely that the Tafts purchased their trombacello from the musical instrument dealer and melodeon-manufacturer, George A. Prince, who represented Graves & Co. in the Buffalo area, according to an advertisement in the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser and Journal, October 8, 1844, p. 2: "GRAVES'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—George A. Prince has this day received—Bass Trombacellos in F.; Bass Trombacellos in Eb; Eb Bugles, 9 keys; B [Bugles] 9 [keys] (new pattern.); Post Horns in Bb. The above, together with a full assortment of the instruments manufactured by Graves & Co., may always be found at the Piano Forte and Music Store, No. 200 Main street, nearly opposite the Farmer's Hotel. George A. Prince, Agent for Graves & Co."

[tbn.al]

I'm really just guessing here,

I know, I read the article too. What I really want to know is, "How did he know to look in that particular barn?" Most barns do not house 150+ year old brass instruments.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
My top dozen ( or 12 of my better finds) of horns in unrestored condition found-garage sales, through ads, antique shows, flea markets, etc.:

-Graves Trombacello
-Graves 12 Bb Ophicleide
-Graves Boston silver 4 valve 'convertable' OTS Eb Tuba
-Fiske silver 4 valve OTS tuba
-Schreiber 'Teardrop' brass/silver 5 valve Tuba
-Schreiber 'Teardrop' 3 v Eb cornet
-Gautrot Eb 9 key Quinticlave (alto ophicleide)
-Meacham Albany 6 key Bb keyed bugle
-O. Coon NY with box 3v silver OTS Bb Baritone
-presentation Fiske piston activated rotor 3v Bb cornet & box
-6 hole, 3 key Sautermeister dragon headed wooden/brass Bb Russian Bassoon
-Anon. 6 hole 3 key brass Bb Bass Horn

Ah, the good old 'pre- internet' days....
Mark

PS Regarding the Trombacello, a town 9 miles from me was having a weekend garage sale, and I went down on a Friday evening during set up looking for musical items--Roy had this old box that he was going to burn and throw out the smelly brass item inside it--I offered to buy it from him and the rest is history....

[tbn.al]

PS Regarding the Trombacello, a town 9 miles from me was having a weekend garage sale, and I went down on a Friday evening during set up looking for musical items--Roy had this old box that he was going to burn and throw out the smelly brass item inside it--I offered to buy it from him and the rest is history....

Something tells me you are not kidding. O MY!