Vega Instrument Dating Guide

This guide documents the history of Vega brass instruments from 1909 through 1970, including company milestones, patents, and serial number practices. The information is based on research and available records; contributions and corrections are welcome.

Company History

Year	Milestone
1909	Vega buys Standard Band Instrument Co.
1910	Displays a Blessing Patent from 1909
1915	Patent for Reversed Mouthpipe slide
1917	Moved to 155 Columbus Ave, Patent for Telescoping Mouthpipe
1919	Major production expansion
1920	Serial jumped to 1st two digits indicating year
1925	Patent for valve guide star
1929	Triumphal Model introduced
1942	Production stopped during WWII
1945	Stock made by Roth, Pedlar, Blessing
1955	Receipt for Trombone purchased
1961	Moved to 40 Leon St, Boston
1966	Moved to 155 Reservoir Rd, Chestnut Hill, possible end of brass sales
1970	Sold to CF Martin Co.

Year

Milestone

1909

Vega buys Standard Band Instrument Co.

1910

Displays a Blessing Patent from 1909

1915

Patent for Reversed Mouthpipe slide

1917

Moved to 155 Columbus Ave, Patent for Telescoping Mouthpipe

1919

Major production expansion

1920

Serial jumped to 1st two digits indicating year

1925

Patent for valve guide star

1929

Triumphal Model introduced

1942

Production stopped during WWII

1945

Stock made by Roth, Pedlar, Blessing

1955

Receipt for Trombone purchased

1961

Moved to 40 Leon St, Boston

1966

Moved to 155 Reservoir Rd, Chestnut Hill, possible end of brass sales

1970

Sold to CF Martin Co.

Operational Periods

Period	Years	Characteristics	Numbering System
Early Vega Era	1909-1919	Acquisition of Standard Band Instrument Co. Early patent activity Initial Boston production	Sequential, low numbers
Expansion & Patents	1920-1942	Serials use first two digits for year Triumphal Model introduced Multiple patents filed	Year-based serials
WWII & Aftermath	1942-1970	Production stopped during WWII Postwar production by other makers Final Boston years, sale to Martin	Mixed, some gaps

Period

Years

Characteristics

Numbering System

Early Vega Era

1909-1919

Acquisition of Standard Band Instrument Co.
Early patent activity
Initial Boston production

Sequential, low numbers

Expansion & Patents

1920-1942

Serials use first two digits for year
Triumphal Model introduced
Multiple patents filed

Year-based serials

WWII & Aftermath

1942-1970

Production stopped during WWII
Postwar production by other makers
Final Boston years, sale to Martin

Mixed, some gaps

Manufacturing Locations

Location	Years	Address	Notes
Boston (Columbus Ave)	1909-1961	155 Columbus Ave, Boston	Main production site, patents filed here
Boston (Leon St)	1961-1966	40 Leon St, Boston	Short period before final move
Chestnut Hill	1966-1970	155 Reservoir Rd, Chestnut Hill	Possible end of brass production

Location

Years

Address

Notes

Boston (Columbus Ave)

1909-1961

155 Columbus Ave, Boston

Main production site, patents filed here

Boston (Leon St)

1961-1966

40 Leon St, Boston

Short period before final move

Chestnut Hill

1966-1970

155 Reservoir Rd, Chestnut Hill

Possible end of brass production

Serial Number Database

Serial	Year	Comments
808	1909	Vega buys Standard Band Instrument Co.
1500	1910	Displays a Blessing Patent from 1909
	1915	Patent for Reversed Mouthpipe slide
	1917	Moved to 155 Columbus Ave, Patent for Telescoping Mouthpipe
8000	1919
20000	1920	Serial jumped to 1st two digits indicating year
	1925	Patent for valve guide star
	1929	Triumphal Model introduced
	1942	Production stopped during WWII
	1945	After the war, it appears that stock was made by Roth, Pedlar, Blessing
73480	1955	Receipt for Trombone purchased
	1961	Moved to 40 Leon St, Boston
	1966	Moved to 155 Reservoir Rd, Chestnut Hlll, possible end of brass sales
	1970	Sold to CF Martin Co.

Serial