Tenor Trombone in B Flat
Catalogue number: 7.3
Original name: Tenor trombone in B flat.
Maker: Joseph Higham.
Place of origin: Manchester, c.1842-1923.
Serial number: 175 (found on slide), 48470 (on bell).
Joseph Higham (1818-83) established his important brass instrument factory at Strangeways in Manchester in 1842. By 1893, more than 46,000 instruments had been produced, the workforce then numbering over 90.
The address in the inscription does not narrow down the date the instrument was made.
Overall size: 1100mm, bell 152mm.
Bore: c 50mm from mouthpiece receiver: 11.5mm not expanding in 110mm from mouthpiece receiver; main tuning slide: descending slide, 11.2mm; ascending slide, 11.2mm; joint, 11.2mm; valve tuning slide: 11.9mm-13.8mm.
Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: 11.9mm.
Technical description: Brass with silver plated decorative ferrules.
Inscription: Engraved on Bell: 鈥淏.S.M鈥� (探花直播 School of Music); engraved on Bell: 鈥淚MPROVED / CLASS / [motif: lion & unicorn crest] / EXHIBITION / PRIZE MEDALS / AWARDED / TO / J. HIGHAM / MAKER / 127. STRANGEWAYS / MANCHESTER / ENGLAND / 46470鈥� / [motif: lion & unicorn crest (larger)].
Faults: Needs new cork on water key. Slide does not move easily.
Usable pitch: Plays at a鈥� = 465 Hz (high pitch).
Previous owner: Dr Desmond MacMahon. Presented 1950.
Illustration references: See below.
Recording references: Click
Previous collection numbers: A and B: Item 77.
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