
Ostrander developed the Reynolds bass trombone with 2 valves and Kleinhammer worked with Holton to develop a plug in solution for the model 169. Before double valve bass trombones were the mainstream, most players used a single valve and this was normal up until the 60s when players and composers started writing more demanding bass bone parts (with lots of low Bs) and people starting thinking of ways to solve the problems. You can see why it's nicknamed the birdcage, its a bit of a Rube Goldberg piece of hardware but it works and its awesome! This is authentic bass trombone evolution history right here. This is a totally stock vintage Holton TR185 with the removable stacked "birdcage" 2nd valve. Holy Moley! I'm rarely speechless when I get an instrument here at the shop… but this bass trombone is outstanding, albeit a period classic and not for everyone. Vintage Holton TR185 Bass Trombone with Birdcage "Kleinhammer" Model
ANTIQUE CONN TROMBONE SERIAL NUMBERS FULL
Valve is a carbon core Laetzsch full flow valve (my personal favorite valve on the market)… Doesn't get much better than this. The instrument itself looks nearly brand new. You can seamlessly switch back and forth from tenor to alto, pop out a Rhenish and then back to William Tell with no jarring feels. All registers are amazingly even and easy, I would say this is an audition winner alto. The sound is brilliant and a touch wide in a good way, it is on the larger side and I think well suited for orchestral playing, very much a modern alto sound.

I love that I can pick this alto up and feel immediately comfortable playing it, this is a rare and valuable thing with an alto trombone. What else could you possibly want from an alto. Stunning craftsmanship, superb intonation, incredible feel and valve register, excellent slide action… a bell garland. This is an amazing instrument and maybe one of the best alto trombones I've ever played. A case is included, no mouthpiece included (a Brad Close piece is in the photo for reference). This instrument also features a period accurate raw brass inner slide tubes, which make a warm and nuanced sound (but does require a bit more maintenance than chrome inner tubes) as well as a tuning slide. Egger reproduces the decorations of the original on this instrument, lots of hand engraving and stamping.

The bell is hand hammered, brazed and finished by scraping in the traditional way. On the MDC model, a special alloy "Nuremburg" brass is used.

This model is based on the Sebastien Hainlein sackbut from 1632. Egger Tenor Sackbut, Model Hainlein (1632) MDCĮgger makes some of the finest historic brass instruments in the world, this sackbut is a work of art! The MDC model is the most authentic replica Egger offers and I will highlight some of the notable details that make this sackbut so special.
