Rossmeisl B♭/A (±1922)

This B♭ trumpet, featuring a quick-change rotary switch to drop it into the key of A, is a great example of how Bohemian craftsmanship blended into the Dutch musical landscape. It was built by Rossmeisl in Tilburg during the early twentieth century.

The instrument has a dull nickel-silver finish—a material chosen back then for its durability and bright sound—though time has definitely left its mark. There is a visible dent in the bell bow, a crease in the flare of the bell, and the first valve slide is currently frozen solid with a significant hole in the tubing. It will need some delicate repair work to get that slide moving and airtight again.

Yet, despite these battle scars, a basic cleaning showed that this trumpet still has plenty of life left in it. It blows remarkably well and speaks easily, which really proves how solid the valve work and the overall build quality of the Rossmeisl workshop were. Mechanically, the quick-change switch is a neat feature from a time when orchestral repertoire was changing rapidly, saving players from having to swap instruments mid-piece. Since it was built to the old High Pitch standard, it comes from the days before A=440 Hz became the global norm, making it a wonderful piece of brass history.