Hi,
I have a couple vintage trumpets that need repair, lead pipes in particular. I'm well aquainted with soldering, tube cutting, etc. My problem is these lead pipes had particular tapers when originally made, how do repairmen match those tapers? Or do they just install a modern leadpipe that may or may not have a different taper?

I also have at least one trumpet that has a missing post between the bell and lead pipe. It's a straight brace post (1930's Conn). It has the base on both sides, but not the post itself with sculpted ends. Is there a source for similar posts or does it need to be made from a piece of brass?

Last question, I have a couple horns missing the stop rod guides, usually the type with 2 diamond shaped ends that wrap the tube and the guide itself pretty much just a piece of brass with a hole for the rod or the whole piece is folded to make a guide hole with 2 diamond shaped wings to attach to the tube. Is there a source for these? Some are missing the rods also, but i think I can make those and I found a source for the nuts and rod end nut(when they have that)

Any and all help, suggestions, links, contacts appreciated. I'm really interested in the lead pipe replacement quandary bc I'd rather, if not outside my means, restore the horn to the original sound/play and different lead pipes would make a big difference on that, especially the Holton's, seems they changed the lead pipe taper for every horn, not sure about others because I've not seen data on them.
If too expensive to duplicate originals, I guess I'll have to settle for what replacements are available, no sense spending $500 on a horn that only worth $300.

kenton wrote on May 26^th, 2023 at 2:50pm:


Thanks for the link, some interesting, detailed info there. Nice of him to try to pass on his knowledge since he's retired.