1945 Selmer Paris 23A Balanced Bb trumpet sn 4611 SOLD

1945 Selmer Paris 23A Balanced Bb trumpet sn 4611  

SOLD

This is a Selmer balanced model trumpet made in 1945.  Louis Armstrong and Harry James both played a Selmer Balanced model at some point in their careers.  This one is stamped 23A on the end of the leadpipe and the bore measures .458, which was considered large bore at the time, but is comparable to today's medium large bore.  

The leadpipe is stamped as follows:

• BB = Bb  trumpet
• LB = large bore (.458")
• LP = low pitch  (A 440, as opposed to earlier high pitch instruments)
• 23A = model number

 The “Grand Prix” trumpets made by Henri Selmer were the venerable top-of-the-line trumpets that they offered at the time. This is an  artist model as evidenced by the “Qualité Artistique” (Artist Quality) located at the top of the floral bell engraving.  

The serial number dates this trumpet to 1945 but obviously there was a lot going on in Paris at that time.  We suspect this trumpet was made from parts that may have been prepared before the war but if not, the Low Pitch designation on the leadpipe should have been superfluous in the post war era since High Pitch had been abandoned many years prior. 

This instrument was acquired as a part of a collection and nothing is known of it's history, but it has been expertly restored and now looks in pristine condition.  The engraving is sharp and clear in all locations except the codes on the bottom of the mouthpiece receiver, but in our experience, these are not normally stamped as deep as the other engraving on these Selmers.    In addition to the "balanced" location of the valve cluster, it  has  nickel-silver slide tubes and and an "underslung" third valve slide ring.

The valves were not replated when the horn was restored and we found them to lack compression so we just had Charlie Melk replate/refit the valves.  With a precision valve alignment and replated valves, this horn now plays as good as it looks.  

There are two well made patches that were likely done with the restoration.  One is on the second valve slide crook and the other is where the bell enters the valve block at the first valve.  

The valve casing, valve stems, spring barrels, top caps and bottom caps have matching numbers (19, 20 and 21) as was the practice with French made instruments.  

This trumpet is an excellent player and is obviously a collector quality instrument.  

Does not come with a case.