Our Story

Centex Brass is owned-and-operated by Clay Collins in Austin, Texas, a  trumpet player for 50 years. He has been buying, selling, and collecting trumpets for the past 25 years. 

Clay is knowledgeable about a number of vintage brass manufacturers, including Olds, Benge, Conn and Bach.  In addition, he keeps up with current models of Bach, Yamaha, Getzen, Schilke and others.  

"My dad and older brother were trumpet players and my other siblings are also musicians (including one PhD in music!) so there was always trumpet playing (and other music) in our house growing up.   While all the other kids received those shiny Conn Director trumpets in beginner band, I was handed my dad's old Conn 12B, which was quite worn by the time I received it.  I was playing on raw brass (and copper) before it was cool!  I graduated to the Mount Vernon Bach cornet and finally to my dad's "new" trumpet in high school... his 1946 Olds Super trumpet (about 30 years old at the time and also showing a lot of wear".

In addition to growing up in a musical family, the family business was involved in small town retail sales, so providing quality merchandise and  the best customer service were also things Clay learned about from an early age.

Centex Brass has evolved from a small sideline hobby into a thriving commercial endeavor with customers spanning the globe.  Along the way we've had the chance to play many great horns as well as keep a few, like a 1928 Bach Stradivarius pictured on the right.

Always interested in Olds and other American brass manufacturers, Clay agreed to assume management of the Olds Central website in 2023 which is the preeminent source for information about trumpets and cornets made by F.E. Olds and Son.  

We pride ourselves on our many repeat customers and trumpet teachers who make referrals that appreciate that Centex Brass means Quality, Value and Service