1930 Martin Handcraft new master trumpet SN 99235

The Martin Handcraft New Master trumpet was made for a few years in the late 1920's and early 1930's. It was introduced following the Dansant model and prior to the Handcraft Imperial. This is a somewhat rare model with very few remaining examples known to exist.

The New Master features a German Silver (nickel-silver or cupro-nickel) bell, which distinguishes it from the other Martin models of this era. It also has four German Silver diamond-shaped accents located on the valve casing (two each at the top and bottom of the 1st and 3rd valve casings facing toward and away from the player).

It has an “M” stamped on the second valve casing on the opposite side of the serial number for medium bore, which research shows should make this a .453 bore, consistent with later Martin trumpets such as the Committee.  However, the bore on this trumpet measures .438 which would make it a small bore model.  It has a mouthpiece receiver without a gap, which is consistent with small bore trumpets of this era.

This trumpet was refinished several years ago by Charlie Melk in gold tinted lacquer. The bell is finished with the same tinted lacquer, but because it is made of German Silver, the bell retains more of a silver hue. The horn was  likely refinished in the distant past because the serial number is somewhat faint on the valve casing, but while a little faint, the bell engraving is completely intact and legible.

This trumpet had patches at the time of the restoration, which were improved.  There are small patches on the first slide tubing and the connection of the bell to the third valve block.  The third patch is a sleeve that was fabricated to replace smaller patches on the middle section of the leadpipe.  

The valves are not plated, but are made of solid German Silver.  There is quite a bit of staining on the pistons, but they seal well as they are with good compression, so no valve work was done during the restoration.  

This trumpet plays well, but its real value is as a rare, and collectable, example of Martin innovation craftsmanship.