Olds Studio Info

[Trombola2112]

I have an Olds Studio I was looking to learn about. It was manufactured in Fullerton and is all silver. Was just curious about its history. I know a little of the Olds brand, but not the Studio trombone itself

[JohnL]

Please check the serial number against this index:
https://www.adams-music.com/en/repair_a ... mbers/olds

You might also check to see if it's dual bore or single bore (i.e., see if you can put the outer slide on "backwards"). The final version of the Studio was .500" single bore; the earlier versions were .485"/.500" dual bore.

[Doug Elliott]

That's something I didn't know. I might like to try a .500 if I ever run into one. Do you know what year that was?

[Trombola2112]

Did some looking, it appears to be a '71 and single bore.

[JohnL]

Did some looking, it appears to be a '71 and single bore.

NIckel plated?

Olds seems to have completely retooled the Studio sometime in the late 1960's. Compare the Studio in the circa 1967 catalog:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/Olds1967.pdf
to the one in the 1970 catalog:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/Olds1970.pdf
and dropped it soon thereafter, as it doesn't appear in the 1973 catalog at all:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/Olds1973.pdf

I've never had the chance to examine one in detail, but I suspect the 1970 version of the Studio is based on the P-15 (8" bell, .500" slide, simple cylindrical braces).

[bbadgerd]

That's something I didn't know. I might like to try a .500 if I ever run into one. Do you know what year that was?

Doug, I have a 1970 Olds Studio that is single bore. Image link below. Perhaps I can have that one in San Antonio also for you in February along with the William Wallace to try out. Remind me as we get closer to February.

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-xX6FQ9/

[bbadgerd]

Here is how the 1970 Single bore Olds Studio sounds.

[Grahambone]

Here are two different versions of the Olds Studio I have sold over the years.

1955 Dual Bore - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 815931284/

1969 Single Bore - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 645036983/

Two very different horn.

[Trombola2112]

Interesting. I wonder what led to the change?

[JohnL]

Interesting. I wonder what led to the change?

Many theories...

Maybe they looked at their line and decided they had too many models that were too close together, given the volume of sales they were seeing? The S-15 Super, T-15 Studio, L-15 Special, and A-15 Ambassador all had the same dimensions (.485"/500" bore, 7½" bell).

Maybe they ran out of stock of the bi-metal Studio bell and decided it wasn't worth the cost of making any more?

Maybe they were looking to add a second model that used the same tooling as the P-15 to help recoup the cost of tooling?

Maybe they felt they needed a second, less expensive model that (like the P-15) was more in line with other common models of the era (i.e., .500" bore, 8" bell)?

Whatever the case, the "new" Studio didn't last long - though the whole "nickel plate as the standard finish" thing was later used on the not only the NL-15 Special trombone, but the NL-10 Special trumpet and NL-5 Special cornet.