A RARE vintage trumpet from the NEW YORK workshop of Vincent Bach, “Mercedes” model, number 9309 (1951 – 1952 ).
 
It’s a recent acquisition from a good friend in Wichita, who’s owned it for more than fifty-five years.
 
The serial number indicates it was built at the old New York (not Mt. Vernon) workshop in the early 1950’s.
 
The current owner purchased it from Clifton W. Sproul, the trumpet teacher at Paramount Music Company, in Wichita.
 
It’s totally original in all parts, still wears 80-85 % of the original factory lacquer.  The monel valves are very close to being perfect.
 
Acquired by us wearing a few dings, we’ve lightly burnished out the worst of them, advise that no other repairs are need nor have been done.  New water-key corks and valve corks…that’s it.
 
We’ve posted a couple of pages from Bach’s 1961 catalog, with full explanation of the differences between the “Stradivarius” and the “Mercedes” models.
 
All brass construction.There’s no indication on the instrument of bell number or bore size.
To that description, please note our further comments:
 
Mercedes models (at the time) had no nickel-silver trim to the valve-cluster or slides, were all .459 bore size, “ML”.  Note the differences in the third slide construction and the Mercedes name on the bell.  Excellent playing characteristics and tonal-color, quite unlike modern Bach trumpets.  This one’s perfect for the particular musician who wants a really fine player, but aren’t concerned about the name on the bell.
 
Set Includes: Excellent 1960's Bach Case, Bach 10 3/4C mouthpiece
 
Recommended!
 
Questions? Write us! We’ve sold Bach trumpets since the early 1950’s, no foolin’. 

GR/Wichita
 
HG