My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
Although the fame of the Columbias might have begun as a result of the trumpet-cornets, which I think are fantastic instruments, even the early Columbia trumpets can be a delight to play: I have rescued several that looked “rusty” and horrible, to be really impressed at how good the valves were and how well they play. And the later trumpets – from say #7000 through to the end of HBJ production – retain not only excellent valves but many are aesthetically superb. The silver finish on Harry B Jay trumpets [actually all the HBJ instruments] is top class: a good silver cleaner, and the instrument will be gleaming, one hundred years later.
My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
I am close friends with two Wisconsin mouthpiece makers, Kelly Mouthpieces of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and GR Mouthpieces of Dousman, Wisconsin . On mouthpieces from both these makers I was able to play up to the double Ab above the trumpet staff, ( concert Gb) which is about the top of my present range. I found the Jay to be probably a smaller bore than my two Bach Strads, one .459 (37) and the other .462 (43 bell) but still able to handle that extreme range with ease.
In my previous email I mentioned the New Century Dance Orchestra, which I performed in from around 1988 up to 2019. Formed by Professor Ray Wifler (clar./alto sax) and Principal Pete Runde (trb) the music came from three libraries of the 20’s-30’s era which were chiefly stocks, printed rather than handwritten. The artists featured were early Ellington, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and other luminaries from those years. The reason I bring this up is that the Jay was used on music from its heyday quite often, it played that well.
The NCDO did some recording and actually a fellow Australian, Rob McWilliams, played lead trumpet in the band’s early years. I did use my King 602 cornet and my Bach 310 short cornet along with my Strads for things that required them, like Bix stuff.
I don’t have any plans to sell the Jay, if I can include pics sometime let me know, it’s not a pretty horn.
Thanks for listening to all my diarrhea of the keyboard, I am partially disabled and can’t get out much at age 71. I appreciate this site very much!
Please don’t judge all Americans by the f***ing asshole in charge over here. There’s many of us who are honest, kind, non-liars, and non racists. There are many of us who didn’t vote for him, despite what he lies about.
We can only hope the dictatorship regime doesn’t last and falls apart.
Despite my nasty language May God’s blessings fall richly upon you!
I just found an H. B. Jay Co. Chicago Columbia trombone at an antique store in Montague, Michigan, ~125 miles from Chi. So I snatched it up, paying $60 cash for the asking price of $75. The serial no. is 7714. 1920? 1921?
Little dings all over. Needs a water key cork. Both the main slide and the tuning slide are a little stiff, and need some work. Otherwise in relatively nice condition. Definitely a vintage mouthpiece; but no size or brand name indicated.
Meeting the seller again tomorrow to pick up the original case from him. (He had a modern Yamaha case of questionable fit with this horn.)
6 replies on “Harry B. Jay serials”
My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
Although the fame of the Columbias might have begun as a result of the trumpet-cornets, which I think are fantastic instruments, even the early Columbia trumpets can be a delight to play: I have rescued several that looked “rusty” and horrible, to be really impressed at how good the valves were and how well they play. And the later trumpets – from say #7000 through to the end of HBJ production – retain not only excellent valves but many are aesthetically superb. The silver finish on Harry B Jay trumpets [actually all the HBJ instruments] is top class: a good silver cleaner, and the instrument will be gleaming, one hundred years later.
My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
My HBJ trumpet was acquired in 1979 with all the valves in the wrong positions. Its lacquer was in poor condition but there are very few small dents and some crackling on the bell edge. It is a Columbia model with floral engraving on the bell. The engraving seems to be basic from what I see on other Jays. This website has been just discovered by me and has been invaluable. The serial number on the pistons and 2nd valve casing is 10195, which adds to your excellent listing.
The finger ring pinky hook was missing when I received it and since I was playing the horn in my teaching, I had another soldered on, a silver plated one. The case was original but in my foolish youth, thinking it worthless, I trashed it for a newer case.
A mouthpiece came with it, a Frank Holton & Co. Elkhorn, Wis. Collegiate. I do not have any information on this mouthpiece.
I have played semi professionally since, and in, HS, and have used this horn on stage in several groups, including a 1920’s- 1930’s era dance band entitled The New Century Dance Orchestra. The valves are incredibly fast and smooth and I was amazed that these trumpets are step bore with reverse lead pipes. The horn looks like hell, but I’ve always been amazed through the years that it plays so sweetly. That Columbias have a relationship in construction to the Martin Committee trumpets is amazing! ( In fact, a 1946 Committee came into my band room in the hands of a 5th grade beginner several years ago. It was his grandfather’s Navy horn. I dutifully informed the parents what they had, but asked for first purchase rights if they ever sell it, I’m honest)
I am close friends with two Wisconsin mouthpiece makers, Kelly Mouthpieces of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and GR Mouthpieces of Dousman, Wisconsin . On mouthpieces from both these makers I was able to play up to the double Ab above the trumpet staff, ( concert Gb) which is about the top of my present range. I found the Jay to be probably a smaller bore than my two Bach Strads, one .459 (37) and the other .462 (43 bell) but still able to handle that extreme range with ease.
In my previous email I mentioned the New Century Dance Orchestra, which I performed in from around 1988 up to 2019. Formed by Professor Ray Wifler (clar./alto sax) and Principal Pete Runde (trb) the music came from three libraries of the 20’s-30’s era which were chiefly stocks, printed rather than handwritten. The artists featured were early Ellington, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and other luminaries from those years. The reason I bring this up is that the Jay was used on music from its heyday quite often, it played that well.
The NCDO did some recording and actually a fellow Australian, Rob McWilliams, played lead trumpet in the band’s early years. I did use my King 602 cornet and my Bach 310 short cornet along with my Strads for things that required them, like Bix stuff.
I don’t have any plans to sell the Jay, if I can include pics sometime let me know, it’s not a pretty horn.
Thanks for listening to all my diarrhea of the keyboard, I am partially disabled and can’t get out much at age 71. I appreciate this site very much!
Please don’t judge all Americans by the f***ing asshole in charge over here. There’s many of us who are honest, kind, non-liars, and non racists. There are many of us who didn’t vote for him, despite what he lies about.
We can only hope the dictatorship regime doesn’t last and falls apart.
Despite my nasty language May God’s blessings fall richly upon you!
I just found an H. B. Jay Co. Chicago Columbia trombone at an antique store in Montague, Michigan, ~125 miles from Chi. So I snatched it up, paying $60 cash for the asking price of $75. The serial no. is 7714. 1920? 1921?
Little dings all over. Needs a water key cork. Both the main slide and the tuning slide are a little stiff, and need some work. Otherwise in relatively nice condition. Definitely a vintage mouthpiece; but no size or brand name indicated.
Meeting the seller again tomorrow to pick up the original case from him. (He had a modern Yamaha case of questionable fit with this horn.)