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, 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 preserve this century-old horn, I undertook several critical repairs. The damaged leadpipe was completely replaced; while not a commercial factory finish, the new pipe integrates nicely and, more importantly, successfully restores the airflow. The broken valve was also meticulously repaired, making the core mechanism fully functional once again. Because restoring the complex B♭/A rotor switch proved too difficult, the valve has been permanently set into a fixed position. Today, the instrument lives on as a fully functional and highly playable B♭ trumpet.