tbn.al wrote: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."