1950s York Mid Century Brass 3 Valve Stenciled Band Baritone Euphonium Horn MOP


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Description

York Band Instrument Company Brass Bariton Euphonium with mother of pear keys. Serial Number 170671, circa 1951-52

York band instrument were founded by James Warren York in 1882 in Grand Rapids, Michigan after a couple of partnerships with local businessmen. Primarily a brass instrument company, York mostly imported woodwinds and strings as stenciled instruments. The company started out by selling stenciled instrument from overseas until they secured capital to buy tooling and hire instrument makers from Courtois, Besson, and Distin to start design on their own brass instruments. Their original saxophone line was not fully developed until the mid-twenties.

York band instruments are still collected and played by a devoted group of followers. Instruments that date from 1940 and earlier are generally considered the more prized instruments, having been built in the original Grand Rapids factory in Michigan. Later instruments after 1940 may have been outsourced to other companies. York Instruments built before 1926 may be in high or low pitch which may be a pitfall when purchasing them to play. Instruments in low pitch in the twenties can be up to 5 cents flat from where pitch is today. In some cases, this can be solved with instrument technicians who can shorten lead pipes and slides to bring it to today's pitch standards. Large bore brass instruments from 1926 to 1940 are highly collectible because they are the most modern examples of York instruments made to professional grade, and meet today's standards for bore size and tuning. Unfortunately these later instruments are more rare, as the yearly production of band instruments in the 1930's were reduced due to the Great Depression in the United States.

​York brass sound quality and workmanship were highly prized among its devotees. Although science experiments to recreate the chemistry of their brass have been attempted, most would agree the instruments made in Grand Rapids had superb workmanship coupled with superior design which greatly contributed to the ""York"" Sound.

There have been many attempts to revive the ""York"" brand but none have matched the popularity and passionate appeal of the original older brass instruments from Grand Rapids. The ""York sound"" is real by those who have played the instruments.

Condition

Good vintage condition, wear commensurate with age, some marking, tarnish.

Dimensions

26.5" x 11.5" x 8"