Holton 180 Bass Trombone serial number and year made

[oneely]

I have an old Holton Bass trombone that has been updated with an independent dual getzen trigger about 8 years ago by the Horn Shop in Fresno California. The horn was given to me by a close friend who felt he was to old to play anymore. He owned and played the horn for many years with its original dependent trigger mechanism with a sliding bar that I found difficult to use. Unfortunately some information on the horn was lost in the upgrade process.

It plays beautifully and I love it but I am not sure of the exact Model, serial number and year of manufacture.
The bell is rose brass and inscribed with Holton, Elkhorn, Wis. U.S.A. The Model and serial number are partially obscured by the brazing attachment of the new trigger mechanism but it looks like "R 180" and one illegible number, maybe a 2, followed by 6307.

I would appreciate any help from the experts on this forum helping me understand the provenance of this great instrument.

[WGWTR180]

10 inch or 9 and 1/2 inch flare??

[Kingfan]

Holton TR-180. Nice horns.

[MrHCinDE]

If you paste a picture of the engraving on the bell, I’d be happy to compare with the one on my TR-180 if that helps to narrow down the era a bit.

Looking here, a 5-digit SN starting with a 2 would be much too early for this model:
https://holtonloyalist.com/serial-numbers/
I believe the TR-180 was firstly released in the mid to late ‘60s and then re-vamped in ‘72/73. Even a 26307x number wouldn’t really make sense. I think there must be another digit before the two, or that it isn’t a two and a digit is missing from the end. Then again, it is Holton we are talking about…

I really like the TR-180, mine also has a modernised split trigger. I’ve heard of various versions of 10” and 9.5” bell, usually rose brass. Mine has a less typical 9.5” yellow brass bell but I also like the rose brass ones I’ve tried in the past.

Which tuning does your 2nd trigger have? I believe the factory setup was for flat E so you can play a B natural in 7th position with both triggers. Many have been modified to have Bb/F/D tuning.

[WGWTR180]

If you paste a picture of the engraving on the bell, I’d be happy to compare with the one on my TR-180 if that helps to narrow down the era a bit.

Looking here, a 5-digit SN starting with a 2 would be much too early for this model:
https://holtonloyalist.com/serial-numbers/
I believe the TR-180 was firstly released in the mid to late ‘60s and then re-vamped in ‘72/73. Even a 26307x number wouldn’t really make sense. I think there must be another digit before the two, or that it isn’t a two and a digit is missing from the end. Then again, it is Holton we are talking about…

I really like the TR-180, mine also has a modernised split trigger. I’ve heard of various versions of 10” and 9.5” bell, usually rose brass. Mine has a less typical 9.5” yellow brass bell but I also like the rose brass ones I’ve tried in the past.

Which tuning does your 2nd trigger have? I believe the factory setup was for flat E so you can play a B natural in 7th position with both triggers. Many have been modified to have Bb/F/D tuning.

The 180 was redesigned closer to 1970. I have one from 1970 with a 10 inch flare. The earlier 180s, or most of them, had 9 and 1/2 inch flares. I own several of those as well. I asked the OP about bell flare size but he hasn't responded. My 1960's instruments have serial numbers that are 457xxx. The 1970 has 509xxx(I think).

[MrHCinDE]

If it helps for a reference point, mine has a 54xxxx serial which puts it around 1977. Might be unusual for that era to have the 9.5” yellow brass bell, I would have thought 10” rose brass would be standard at that time. Whether it is standard or some sort of special order it certainly plays great.

The bell diameter, material and a picture of the engraving would be useful to try and age the OP’s horn.

[MrHCinDE]

Here’s an old post I had in mind btw., seems to be a first hand account which suggests the re-vamped production commenced in ‘72 and was officially released in ‘73.

viewtopic.php?p=99720&hilit=180+1972#p99720

Is there a suggestion now that actually it was a couple of years earlier, not that it really matters either way, just as a point of interest?

[WGWTR180]

Here’s an old post I had in mind btw., seems to be a first hand account which suggests the re-vamped production commenced in ‘72 and was officially released in ‘73.

viewtopic.php?p=99720&hilit=180+1972#p99720

Is there a suggestion now that actually it was a couple of years earlier, not that it really matters either way, just as a point of interest?

I'll read this. I was just speaking on the 9.5 inch bell to the 10 inch bell. Valve set was also set up differently.

[WGWTR180]

Well I just read it and I'm not sure what to say. Am I wrong that a serial number that reads 509xxx is from 1970? Because I have one sitting here that had the Glantz bar that I had converted to independent linkages. It's actually for sale here on the Chat. Holton did some weird things back then.

[MrHCinDE]

To quote myself from earlier in the thread

“Then again, it is Holton we are talking about”

I’m also puzzled why mine from about ‘77 had a 9.5” yellow brass bell.

Pure Holton-ness

[oneely]

I apologize to those who have responded to my original request for help. I am a newbie on this forum.
I have not been able to get the requested photographs of my horn from my computer to my posts on this thread.
Any help would be appreciated.

Answers to some of your questions:
The horn has a 10 inch Rose Brass bell inscribed with "Holton, Elkhorn Wis. U.S.A."
I think tuning is Bb-F-D. How do I verify that?

Thanks
Otto Neely
831-521-9757

[BGuttman]

If the picture files are not too big, you can upload them using the "attachments" tab in the full editor. Note that some files will be rejected if too big.

If the picture files are located on line (like in Photobucket), you can use the IMG tags:

1. Right click on the image online.
2. Click on the "Copy Image Address"
3. In your post, use the IMG tags like this

Code: Select all

[img]picture address goes here[/img]

Note that you must use square brackets for the IMG tags.

The result will look like this:


Note: this is the exact same reply I posted on another thread about a TR-180 with the same question but a different user.