RARE Vintage 1960 King Super 20 "Silver-Sonic" Professional Bb Trumpet; with Case, Mouthpiece

Wichita Band Instrument Company

Wichita,KS

A RARE VINTAGE TRUMPET FROM THE H.N.WHITE "KING" MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COMPANY,MADE IN CLEVELAND IN 1960.

This one’s also quite special…. We acquired it last year from the second owner who acquired it more than 40 years ago.

Long story... In the late fifties, Harry James and his band played a couple of nights in Wichita.  I was there, heard him place twice, was quite impressed.  I've got to admit that I wasn't close enough to tell which trumpet he was playing, but I am certain it was a King Super 20...You can easily identify by the way the first valve slide is constructed....wider radius than on any other brand.

And he sounded great!  Loud player, as I recall, typical James "Big Band" tone.  "Trig Ballroom" on east Kellogg street. I'll never forget it.  

Our Silver-sonic's come to us in "9.9 out of ten" condition. There's an almost-invisible trace of a burnisher work on the flare, but it's otherwise mint.  No dents, no thin spots, 99% original lacquer.

But King, by the sixties  was spraying lacquer (Nikolas 2100 silver-lac) on the entire trumpet...brass valve cluster and also the solid-silver sterling bells.  And as we all know, lacquer works better on brass than it does on silver. That means the lacquered bell is not perfect....but very close.

The gold-plate "wash" to the inside of the bell flare is also lacquered and about 98% original and clean.

Very important….the original pistons are perfect…dead perfect.  As tight as when they were new and better than the pistons on ANY modern trumpet. 

Bottom line…superb player, all original, very tight valves. Not mint, but an honest and fine example.  

Serial #374,343 DB.  But you can see the numbers from my photos.

More questions?  Write me!  I type fast, am always delighted in corresponding with interesting folks!

GR / Wichita Band Instrument Co.

HG

Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA.  The owners are Kansas natives Gary L. Ray and his two sons. 

Founded by a woodwind repair technician in 1953, we soon will commence our seventy-fourth year in business.

We’re not a “back bedroom” operation but can report that we are the owners of a proper “brick and mortar” workshop.

We enjoy a sterling reputation for ethical business transactions and confirm to our friends and clients the simple fact that we expect to be in business forever.

Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than four decades:

“ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace (whichever in our estimation is the more advisable), pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. In the event of cracked or damaged wood sections, we will repair at no cost to the customer or replace the section and charge the customer only for our net costs for the replacement section. Often, wood replacement parts are supplied from the manufacturer at no charge. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.”

Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953!

 In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.**** WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY / WICHITA, KANSAS /  USA