Holton small and medium bore trombones

[Bach5G]

I don’t know much about Holton small/medium bore trombones. What models pre- and post- the LeBlanc purchase were similar in size to 2Bs and 3Bs? Maybe something like the Martin Urbie Green? Small bore Holtons get virtually no love whatsoever on this site.

[BGuttman]

As I understand them, the 65, 67, and 69 are all small bores.

I own a 67, also called Stratodyne. I'd call it equivalent to a Conn 48H. Great horn for big band. Great horn for Dixieland. Mine came from the estate of a guy who used it in both.

[officermayo]

My 1966 Special is .500.

[Doug Elliott]

I have one of these, which seems to be .500/.508 but I don't know if it had a model name or when it was from.

Should be around 1940, their movie Saps at Sea

[Finetales]

As far as I know:

62 = ?
63 = .480-.495"/7.5"
64 Resotone = ?
65 = .485"/7" or 7.5" rose brass
66 Galaxy = .485-.500"/7" (67 mandrel) all nickel
67 Stratodyne = .485"/7" rose brass
69 = .485"/8" rose brass - .481-.491
TR-100 Virtuoso = .500"/8" rose brass
TR-101 = .485/7.5" - .509"
TR-102 = .485"/7" - .485-.509"/8" or 7.75"
TR-401N Galaxy = .485-.500"/7 3/8"
TR-501 Special = .500"/8"
TR-602 = .500"/8" (student model)

[ithinknot]

Some of that isn't right...

My 69 is a .481-.491 dual; in the 2B manner, the stockings match so you can't tell just from flipping the outer slide.

TR-101 was a straight .509/7.5" yellow
TR-102 was a dual .495-.509/supposedly 8" yellow; the bell was obviously shared with the Martin Urbie, and the one I had, like some Urbies, was actually 7 3/4"

Both are super rare - I've only ever seen one of each for sale, and the TR-102 was mine... it was the first horn my parents bought for me.

[Finetales]

Corrections noted. This is just what I've been able to find out of the sparse information on the Internet.

[dcslideman]

I have a 1965 model 65 which I think I saw somewhere was the last year it was made. It was advertised as a Buddy Morrow endorsee. I can confirm .485" bore, bell just a shade under 7 1/2". Depending on semantics it has gold/rose bell. It plays big, much bigger than .485 would indicate, and can make a lot of volume if you want.

[chromebone]

The only pro-level medium bore they made that I’m aware of was the TR-161, which was made in the 90’s-early 2000’s.

[dzdz]

I use a TR-161. Nice .525 medium bore trombone.

[DaveAshley]

Martin Urbie Green horns were all built by Holton, and have Holton serial numbers.

[cb56]

Anyone know what mouthpiece was shipped with the 67 stratodyne? My dad had one and I think the marking on the mouthpiece said Holton 48 but not sure.

[dcslideman]

I have been meaning to post these pictures for awhile. I have heard there were 2 versions of the model 65. According to these two framed advertising pages I have, the redesign was in 1957 since it is "new". I have heard it ran until 1965(but can't confirm) and mine is a 1965 according to the serial number.

IMG_20240607_183724907.jpg

IMG_20240607_183812481.jpg

IMG_20240607_183836894.jpg

IMG_20240607_183851917.jpg

[atopper333]

There was also the Tr-602F

8 inch yellow bell at a .525 bore…

[Rayek]

I have a 1960 65 as well as a 1963 69. Both of my horns are .485 bore, which makes me wonder if the slide specs on the 69 changed at some point.

Although on paper the only measurable difference between them is the 7.5" vs 8" bells, the horns play very differently. The 65 has the heavier bell of the two, plus a soldered rim. It projects really well without requiring a ton of effort. The 69's rim is unsoldered. It's more malleable and has greater near feel than the 65, but doesn't cut through as easily in large ensemble scenarios.

The slides look nearly identical and are compatible with both bell sections. The only visual difference is that the 65 has slightly longer oversleeves. However, the 69's leadpipe is much more open. Because I prefer the more open pipe, but need to cut through in the big band I play in, I've been using the 69 slide with the 65 bell. It's an oddly great combination.