Frank Holton & Co.
Chicago, Illinois
Bb/A Trumpet
#23485 c.1913

Model: The Holton
Key: Bb/A
Length: 18.75 "
Bell: 4.75"
Bore: 0.462"
Finish G: burnished silver-plating with gold bell, caps, finger buttons, & water key
Accessories: none when purchased; Heim mouthpiece added

Original cost in 1913 = $79.50 [$2,585 in 2025]

When Holton introduced their new trumpet design in 1911, it was the first to be seriously considered for use in major symphony orchestras due to the bore size and overall design characteristics. These were used by players like Gustav Heim of the Boston Symphony Orchestra who introduced them to newly arrived Vincent Bach in 1914. This example is from 1913 after the change in the second slide from facing forward to rearward and before the addition of the second tuning stop rod in 1914.

This came without any accessories and oddly had low pitch valve slides combined with a high pitch main slide. Originally, it would have had both sets. I happened to have a Chicago Heim mouthpiece that I added to it for the photos.

Catalog image from 1911. The third slide ring position makes you use your pinky to control it.

Page from the 1912 Holton Harmony Hints magazine and shown in high pitch.

Some views of the trumpet when purchased. It's wearing modern finger buttons.

All apart and ready for restoration.

After cleaning and restoration work. The slide stop rod and finger buttons came from parts horns.

I later made a low-pitch slide from various parts.

Vincent Bach with his 1914 Holton trumpet at the BSO.