Emil K. Blessing B♭/A "Quick-change rotor" (1921)

This historic trumpet was manufactured in 1921 by the celebrated American maker Emil K. Blessing, bearing serial number 15334. A standout feature of this model is its built-in rotary switch, originally designed to allow the musician to instantly transition the instrument's key from B♭ to A.

When this trumpet first arrived, it was completely unplayable: the leadpipe was broken, the rotary switch was frozen solid, and one of the valves was severely damaged.

To get this century-old horn working again, I tackled a few essential repairs. I completely replaced the damaged leadpipe; while it might not look like a commercial factory finish, the new pipe fits well and, more importantly, restores the airflow. I also fixed the broken valve, making all valves fully functional once again. Because fixing the complex B♭/A rotor switch proved too difficult, I permanently set the switch into a fixed position. Thanks to these fixes, the instrument lives on as a fully playable B♭ trumpet.