1947 Martin Committee
RonD
and that's where my story begins. I've collected vintage guitars for
years and have a sickness for old guitars in their original cases,
with original goodies in the storage compartment. Don't know why.
Anyway, I was Christmas shopping in the local antique mall today when
I spotted a neat little linen hard case with a "Martin Elkhart Indiana
USA" metal label on it. Too small to be a guitar and Martin is in
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, but I opened it, and there's this neat little
trumpet with a couple of Rudy Muck mouthpieces and pieces of a Tommy
Dorsey Free-Tone Plunger as well as some other odd bits, so I bought
it. Engraved on the bell is "The Martin Committee-Model Elkhard Ind
USA" and the serial number is 156XXX. I stopped by the local music
store and picked up a brass trumpet cleaning kit, cleaned and oiled
it, and everything seems to work. I can even get vaguely trumpet-like
sounds out of it. My lips are numb. It does not have a single dent
or any significant scratches, but plenty of discoloration. I cruised
the internet and found that the serial number seems to indicate 1947
year of manufacture. On this newsgroup and Ebay I can see that
Committees are apparently somewhat sought after. I don't want to
waste a perfectly good instrument so reselling/auctioning is possible.
On the other hand, I really like jazz and would not mind have Miles'
trumpet propped up in a corner. I see where solid old instruments can
be refurbished to look/sound first rate, and would not mind putting
several hundred into it knowing it might bring twice that one day(I
did not pay much for it as is). Or I have a 4 year old who is very
musically inclined, although this is obviously not a starter
instrument, he may need one one day (who knows?). So...any opinions
and/or advice from this experienced group? Thanks much in advance.
Ron
William Graham
"RonD" <rjd...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:d053b941.0312...@posting.google.com...
In 1985 I was visiting my friend up here in Salem, Oregon, and I bought a
Conn trumpet at a garage sale for $60. I was going to bring it back to the
San Francisco Bay area where I lived, and sell it. - But, as long as I had
it, I decided to try to get a few notes out of it. I found out that I could
play the scale on it after 10 or 15 minutes, and before the weekend was
over, I could even play some simple popular tunes. I am still playing the
trumpet now, about 19 years later. - So be careful.....It's habit
forming........
JoeGuy
"William Graham" <we...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:22sHb.675465$Tr4.1694003@attbi_s03...
jazz...@hotmail.com
> if you have a vintage martin committee don't sell it. it's priceless.
I wouldn't say it's priceless. I just sold a '47 committee a couple of
weeks ago!
--
Jeff Helgesen
http://www.shout.net/~jmh/
William Graham
<jazz...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bspmdq$3ig$4...@roundup.shout.net...
> JoeGuy <johnsh...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > if you have a vintage martin committee don't sell it. it's priceless.
>
> I wouldn't say it's priceless. I just sold a '47 committee a couple of
> weeks ago!
>
at auction for a million six........
jazz...@hotmail.com
>>
>> I wouldn't say it's priceless. I just sold a '47 committee a couple of
>> weeks ago!
>>
> Yeah.....I read about it in the newspaper....The Smithsonian just bought it
> at auction for a million six........
Considerably less, actually, I sold it at cost to a buddy. I am having
some seller's remorse.... ;-)
markfromsf
> if you have a vintage martin committee don't sell it. it's priceless.
I very recently sold a 1947 Martin Committee for $835.00.... hardly
priceless. I'd reword that to....."if you have a vintage martin
committee don't sell it unless you'd rather have about $835.00"
RonD
the horn and my wife, who has NEVER played ANY instrument, came in,
winced, and said "You're doing something wrong. Let me try". Her
first try was a nice deep tone (Bb?). She asked how to finger the
next note and I showed her and of course it came out beautifully. And
the next and so on. Yesterday she was improvising little tunes.
Looks like she has the gift. She's shown me how she forms her lips and
blows, but I can't duplicate it. Best guess is some dental work I had
up front is holding me back. And my lips really ARE numb!
Right now I'm leaning toward having the instrument chemically cleaned,
checked out and overhauled professionally. I've started getting in
touch with several recommended sources. Do not believe I will have it
refinished at this time although I may later. With my own version of
Miles in the house now, I think I'll keep at least for a while.
Anyway, thanks again. I'll keep in touch!
Best regards and HAPPY NEW YEAR,
Ron
Catzz66
it for any price.
jazz...@hotmail.com
> Some of you are too literal. A horn is priceless to me if I don't want
> to sell it for any price.
Of course -- but the market for these horns has really inflated in the
last year. I think the point being made is that "priceless" may be a bit
of an overstatement, especially in light of the fact that we have two
folks here who have recently sold seemingly identical horns for very
reasonable prices.
Robert DeSavage
>Some of you are too literal. A horn is priceless to me if I don't want to sell
>it for any price.
By the same token, if someone wouldn't give you a plug nickel for it,
then is it priceless? 8-)
Catzz66
>sell
>>it for any price.
>
>By the same token, if someone wouldn't give you a plug nickel for it,
>then is it priceless? 8-)
>
Not for me it isn't, but I like horns with some "history" which is what I am
talking about.
THE Old Man
>Some of you are too literal. A horn is priceless to me if I don't want to sell
>it for any price.
Yeh ... what he said.
William Graham
"Catzz66" <cat...@aol.comeieio> wrote in message
news:20031230065932...@mb-m03.aol.com...
> Some of you are too literal. A horn is priceless to me if I don't want to
sell
> it for any price.
We (or, at least, I) were just pulling your leg.... I have a couple of horns
that I wouldn't part with unless I clearly found substitutes that played
better too, which isn't likely, since I don't spend much time trying out
other horns. Also, at this stage of the game, I feel that I should be able
to get good sound with what I've got. A good artist can paint with any brush
he finds, and, I think, the same thing can be said for any decent trumpet
player....
JoeGuy
condition. there's a cash value for a gibson '59 flametop, too. but, try to
find one. who's going to sell it? and, if you do find one for sale- you'd
have to be glenn campell to afford it.
if you really sold a martin committe in very good condition, for 850,00, i
believe you undersold it. my guess is that the hrn's actual value, right
now, is 1200.00-1500.00$
there are several reasons for this. first you have antique value, the
instrument is over 50 years old. second, and this is debateable, many
artists feel that the quality of brass available today isn't as good. i, for
one, also believe this. why vintage martins, and old's and conns are
staarting to sell at a premium, any one knows that; almost regardless of
it's condition. if it is a vintage martin, with engraved bell, and nickel
slides, and all the parts are in order; it may even fetch closer to 2k. just
as with the early les pauls, guitarists feel, "the woods are gone."
i read some time ago, that doc severinsen was collecting vintage horns, for
that reason. i seen pics of his vintage boston cornet posted.
thre are other vintage horns, maybe worth more. some have beautiful
scrollwork and workmanship not found on todays horns.
remember, these horns are getting more scarce. elkhart, indiana isn't what
it used to be. who ever thought olds would go belly up? pretty soon,
everything will be mitsubishi...
"William Graham" <we...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ZsmIb.174357$8y1.528332@attbi_s52...
Tom Bates
rjd...@ix.netcom.com (RonD) wrote:
FWIW, I bought a 1956 Martin Committee from a Trumpeter here in Chicago
who played with the band that more or less, probably more, started the
"Chicago Style" of polka in the late 40's. He had it restored and a
larger bell added which probably decreased its value, but it's a great
sounding horn and I wouldn't part with it due to its history on that
bands recordings as well. He asked $350 for it in 1995, but I have no
idea what it might be worth today.
--
Yours,
Tom
G or C Elliott *
Vintage Cornets. com
(Not saying what it fetched--but I'm playing a WT now.) Glenn
* Re: Our address...From a Scot ballad, circa 1350:
"Oh, my name is Little Jock Elliot, an' ( wha daur meddle wi' me?")
RonD
http://home.netcom.com/~rjdavis/
Thanks again to all the mostly helpful (but always entertaining) replies.
Best regards,
Ron
Robert DeSavage
The unnamed aluminum mute is a Harmon WaWa mute. In case you're
wondering, that clear plastic object is a hand guard that protects the
valve array from wear and tear from perspiration and normal handling.
BOB
Sean
I have a Martin Trumpet that I inherited from my great uncle. It is a
Martin Committee sn/ 153397 and it looks brand new. It has the exact
looking case that you have your's in. I was just trying to find some
research on it but it is hard to find.
David C. Stephens
it's salvageable as a player. I missed the beginning of the thread.
Hopefully not a lot of money was paid.
Dave
"RonD" <rjd...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:d053b941.0401...@posting.google.com...
JoeGuy
condition. what a shame. obviously it was kept in garage or abasement and
unattended for a long time. i'm hoping that, with a talented restoration
artist, and a new case; it may be at lest playable. it's going to cost a few
bucks.
"David C. Stephens" <dcs...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:sjhJb.4102$mV3....@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com...
RonD
discoloration. Copper brown, darker brown, dark green. Looks about
like the photos. In a couple of places where the surface is darkest,
the surface feels slightly flat (less round). I am interested in
knowing whether it is salvageable as a player. It DOES play now,
although whether it plays "right" is of course something I can't tell
you, since I'm not a horn player. I've read about red rot but know
little about it--can it be cleaned up, I presume with some loss of
material? The purpose of the original post was to collect advice so
I'm wide open. BTW, I payed an embarassingly little for it, and enjoy
just looking at it while listening to "Kind of Blue". But if it can
be restored, I am very interested. Ideas?
Thanks much.
Ron
G or C Elliott *
is" on display next to your audio system. I think your going to find a
good playable MC in better condition than what you are likely to spend
to bring it back. Frankly, the one I had wasn't that good a player IMHO.
JoeGuy
get it fixed. i would. perhaps most of the problems are merely cosmetic,
providing that it hasn't rotted through, and you say it hasn't. a re-laquer
job would do wonders for it's appearance, and i've seen instruments that
were literally stepped on restored to brand new condition. i would do it.
but, figure on spending upwards of about 300.00 or more. the result can be
very satisfactory if done by a good restoration artist. here are some pics
of the restoration of a bach strad that was very badly abused. it may take a
few minutes to load- but; will restore your faith in human nature. take a
minute to look at the before and after pics. while this process isn't cheap;
it can be brought to a very successfull conclusion; and, i feel, on a
collectable horn like a 47 martin, is well worth the effort.
http://www.johnnypaulsmusicshop.com/TrumpetOverhaulinPictures.html
"G or C Elliott *" <whadaur...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:16627-3F...@storefull-2232.public.lawson.webtv.net...
David Clark
It has been my experience that the tone and condition of a vintage
trumpet is very important and it can make the horn worth under $100 or
a lot more. Before anyone can state extreme figures that this trumpet
is worth, it would have to be played and seen. I have seen the metal
so deteriorated that they are worth nothing. People don't usually pay
large prices to put them on the wall to look at.
David
JoeGuy
have to get a good restoration artist. most of mechanical parts look good in
pic. get it relaquered, and junk the case; and buy a new one. only if you
really have love for vintage martins, of course; this won't be cheap to fix.
"David Clark" <timb...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e184c401.04010...@posting.google.com...
jon_norstog
I looked at the pictures, and I think you got a pretty good deal.
What I would do is ... have the instrument chemcleaned, clean and air
the case, clean up the mutes and mouthpieces. And leave it at that.
Too bad you don't play. The instrument looks like it should play just
fine, and the mouthpieces and accessories indicate (to me, at least)
that the original owner knew what he/she was doing. Maybe you could
find a trumpeter to test drive the instrument?
Learn to play the horn! The MC could be a pretty good starter horn. Or
keep it as a good example of a knowledgable musician's kit circa 1950.
Or, sell it as a player horn. $250 easy.
good luck
jn
rjd...@ix.netcom.com (RonD) wrote in message news:<d053b941.0312...@posting.google.com>...
Jeff Helgesen
If you've got any '47 Committees that you'd like to unload for $250,
please contact me off board. Immediately.
-- jeff
thur...@allidaho.com (jon_norstog) wrote in message news:<f9b3265.04010...@posting.google.com>...