Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

The Olds company was established in 1908 in California, by trombonist Frank Ellsworth Olds (b. 1861 d. 1928).

Initially they produced only trombones until Reginald. B. Olds (b. 9/11/1899 ), joined his father. Olds was first to draw its own slide tubing on strong, light, two-piece patented brace, nickel silver tubing for slides, fluted slide to reduce friction. They probably made the first double trigger bass trombone, a Super.

Early model names included: The Olds, Standard, French, Military, Special, Symphony, Super, Super-Recording, and the Recording. Production stopped during World War II, but promptly resumed at the end of the war. And, the company, who previously made only professional level instruments decided to add a student line, the Ambassador. Foster Reynolds (d. 1960) was hired and the Ambassador and the Mendez and Opera were added to the model line. In 1952, Zig Kanstul was added to the leadership.

They were based 204 W 24th St, LA 1899-1922, 1914 Raymond Ave, LA 1922-1956, 350 S. Raymond Ave, Fullerton, CA until 1956-1979. Kanstul left the company in 1972, signaling a decline in product quality.

Selmer bought much of their tooling and manufactured Olds-like instruments for several years, using Selmer-U.S.A.-owned names.

Commentary on Olds French Horns: In the 1950s Olds was in Fullerton, California having moved from LA a few miles away. During this era Olds trumpets and trombones were really fine quality instruments and fine artists of the day used them and there was even a studio series.

Olds was being run at this time by Mr. Reynolds who had closed down his Ohio factory and had taken up the task of helping Olds to gain market share over Conn. The studio musicians of the day used Conn 8Ds and Kruspes, both usually with modified leadpipes.

It was probably Reynolds who decided to use the Geyer wrap on this high end horn, although I am not sure. The man who made the valves for Carl Geyer in Chicago was in LA and sold valves to the Olds company as well. He may have offered the valves to Olds and that may be how this Olds horn got the valves of a Geyer... they really were from the same shop!

Reynolds was probably trying to build a better horn than Conn, and this Geyer/Knopf wrap allowed him to build a big horn with a freer blowing feel. The horn plays with a fine clear dark ringing tone. It is a fine horn made to compete with the big Nickel horns of the day, yet using the Geyer wrap.

It was just too costly a horn to break into a field dominated by Conn...especially as this is during the time when Conns were becoming the most used professional horn in the US.

Olds, along with Reynolds was sold to Norlin Music in 1964, but continued to sell under their own names until the early 80s. P. J. LaPlaca Associates Ltd of Barrington Ill. acquired the rights to Olds.

By 1979, trumpets and cornets were made in Holland by Schendelars in collaboration with Mario Marconi, formerly of C. Bruno & Sons. The name then evolved into producing instruments made by Blessing in Elkhart (student range to Artist), and some of the lower brass later sourced from Amati and Asia. This brand is owned by NEMC (National Education Music Co) in Mountainside.

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