Sterling Silver Bells

Roy Barnes | "The sterling bell [trombone] plays big. I was surprised to discover that it was only a .500 bore ... I would say that the sterling bell Reynolds actually performs better than most King 3B Silver Sonics that I have played. It is open blowing, and has very solid slotting."

Foster Reynolds worked with the original sterling silver bells introduced by H.N. White in the late 1920s on their Liberty-model trumpets, cornets, trombones and clarinets. When Reynolds left in 1936 to form his own company, he also produced trumpets, cornets and tenor trombones with sterling silver bells. The standard sterling silver bell provided "well modulated and warm tonal qualities." The deluxe sterling silver bell featured hand-burnished gold inlaid engraving that created a "distinctive appearance and sound."

Reynolds also reportedly managed to take one of White's long-time engravers with him. As a result, the early Reynolds sterling instruments tend to have very ornate engravings that are reminiscent of the contemporary H.N. White "Silver Tone" horns.

Roth-Reynolds renamed the sterling silver Professional models as "Sterling" brand instruments in 1959. This appears to have been only a marketing change as the physical appearance of the horns and the "Reynolds" bell engraving did not change other than the addition of the word "Sterling". The silver bells were a standard offering in the Reynolds catalog up until the early 1960s when the Professional line was discontinued.

Photo Gallery

Photos used with permission from: (l-r) 1. eBay Member: wideangleman; 2. Dave Hall (eBay Member: daveh72dd); 3. www.vintagecornets.com; 4. eBay Member: phonoviolin; 5. Al Gottesman/Lauderdale Wind (eBay Member: algee2); 6. Matthew Stoecker (eBay Member: quinntheeskimo) and eBay Member: dlsmhughes; 7. eBay Member: graces*vintage; 8. Matthew Stoecker (eBay Member: quinntheeskimo); 9. Göran Svensson; 10. Matthew Stoecker (eBay Member: quinntheeskimo); 11. eBay Member: bonebone9 (current owner: George Paree); 12. Matthew Stoecker (eBay Member: quinntheeskimo).