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Up for sale is a wonderful piece of mid-century American music history: a 1957 Acme Master Bb Trumpet, manufactured by the highly regarded York Band Instrument Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Based on the serial number (653348), this horn was crafted in 1957 during the coveted post-war manufacturing era. "Acme Master" was a proprietary stencil brand name used by York, meaning this instrument features the exact same high-quality body, architecture, and ornate floral bell engraving as the classic York Master models of the same decade.
Condition Details:
• The Good: This trumpet plays beautifully and boasts a rich, warm vintage tone! Crucially, the action on the valves is amazing—they are fast, smooth, and highly responsive.
• The Wear: The instrument shows aesthetic signs of its nearly 70-year history, including typical vintage lacquer loss, acid-bleed spotting across the valve casings, and a couple of small cosmetic dings that do not affect playability or sound.
• The Finger Hook: Please note that the right-hand pinky finger hook has desoldered from the leadpipe (a common occurrence with vintage brass). The original hook is included intact (see photos) and can be easily resoldered by any local brass repair technician for a minor fee. The horn plays perfectly without it.
What's Included in this Complete Estate Bundle:
1. The 1957 Acme Master Trumpet
2. Original 1950s Hardshell Case: Features the iconic clear/amber translucent handle, white contrast border stitching, and functional latches. Shows minor cosmetic scuffs but is structurally solid.
3. Vintage F.E. Olds & Son No. 3 Mouthpiece: A highly collectible 1960s silver-plated jazz mouthpiece in great shape with a straight shank.
4. Original Brass Marching Sheet Music Lyre: The period-correct, bent-stem brass music clamp that mounts directly into the trumpet's lyre box.
This is an excellent opportunity for collectors, vintage jazz enthusiasts, or comeback players looking for a soulful American-made horn with fantastic mechanical action.
