CG Conn Elkhart Yellow Brass 88H (8H) Special, circa 1947
The Conn 88H wasn't officially in production until 1954. But, if you were in the know and had connections, it was possible to order an 8H with an optional factory installed F attachment prior to the production model 88H. Emory Remington was regularly ordering these for his students at Eastman and eventually it become a regular model. This particular instrument is one of those special orders, but making it even more interesting and rare, it also happens to be fabricated from yellow brass and not the common red brass you see on 88Hs. Mysteriously, the throat of the bell flare has a slower taper than other 8h's I've seen from the era, similar to a Bach taper, which gives this horn a broader tonal color and some unique sonic qualities and tendencies. The valve also has a bronze bearing plate, something not common on Conn trombones from this period. Other than these unusual specs, the instrument same as any other model 88H. The narrow slide is .547" bore with Conn gold brass outer tubes, the bell is 8.5" in diameter (made with a cross braze). The rim wire is soldered and the wire is made from steel (both of these were common on pre WWII model Conns, but not usually of this vintage). It's one of the best orchestral trombones I've played and is a wonderful example of the cool one off's Conn was making during this period. If you have an unusual 8H or 88H from this period, I want to hear about it. Please send me an email!
The Conn 88H wasn't officially in production until 1954. But, if you were in the know and had connections, it was possible to order an 8H with an optional factory installed F attachment prior to the production model 88H. Emory Remington was regularly ordering these for his students at Eastman and eventually it become a regular model. This particular instrument is one of those special orders, but making it even more interesting and rare, it also happens to be fabricated from yellow brass and not the common red brass you see on 88Hs. Mysteriously, the throat of the bell flare has a slower taper than other 8h's I've seen from the era, similar to a Bach taper, which gives this horn a broader tonal color and some unique sonic qualities and tendencies. The valve also has a bronze bearing plate, something not common on Conn trombones from this period. Other than these unusual specs, the instrument same as any other model 88H. The narrow slide is .547" bore with Conn gold brass outer tubes, the bell is 8.5" in diameter (made with a cross braze). The rim wire is soldered and the wire is made from steel (both of these were common on pre WWII model Conns, but not usually of this vintage). It's one of the best orchestral trombones I've played and is a wonderful example of the cool one off's Conn was making during this period. If you have an unusual 8H or 88H from this period, I want to hear about it. Please send me an email!
