Circa 1931 Calicchio Superior Bb trumpet - SOLD

1920's -30's era Calicchio Superior  Bb trumpet 

SOLD

This is a very rare early Calicchio trumpet in excellent restored condition.  The trumpet has been completely rebuilt with lacquer by Tom Green and valve refitting by Mark Metzler.   With its nickel-silver trim and detailed craftsmanship, it is a true work of art.  

In preparing this description, I've consulted with a number of notable brass experts.  There are very few examples Calicchio's early work, so exactly which parts he produced and which were sourced from others is unclear. While this trumpet has a few parts that seem unique from other early Calicchio trumpets, the overall appearance is consistent with an early Calicchio trumpet.

The serial number is not consistent with the published Calicchio lists, which begin at 1000.   Speculation is that Calicchio purchased valve sections from William Frank or perhaps Lyon and Healy.  The serial number  may be a manufacturing date:   9831 or September 8, 1931.  The valve section  matches other William Frank valve sections from the 1930's but the font on the serial number does not match other Frank valve sections.  The font matches the style for the serial number on other Calicchio trumpets. 

The trumpet would have been assembled by Calicchio once he received the valve section from Chicago.  The serial number is stamped on the second valve casing as well as the piston spring barrels.  

My friend Jon Patton has compiled information about the early years of Domenico Calicchio as a trumpet maker that can be found here.

In 1928, Domenico was making "Superior" model trumpets in New York using Wm Frank valve sections.   This trumpet has WIDE stamped on the piston spring barrels, which is consistent with other early Calicchio trumpets.  It is possible that this trumpet predates the start of the Calicchio serial number sequence of 1000.

Information about another pre-war New York Calicchio is posted here and a possible connection to Wm Frank valve sections is posted here. 

The bore measures as medium large .459.  The trumpet weighs  37 ounces, which  is comparable to Besson trumpets of that era but lighter than most other horns being made at that time.  The trumpet has fairly compact sound that also suggests it may be a very early horn while Calicchio was still searching for the right components and configuration.    

The horn has tuning on a double-pull first slide only and no third slide throw.

Does not come with a case or mouthpiece.