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Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:25 pm
by shagiTrombone
Hello! I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what model King this is based off the design of the counterweight? Serial number looks to date it around early 1900s? And any bell engravings that might've been there are gone.
I've only been able to find 1 other online where someone labeled it as a 606, but I'm not sure if that's actually it, since I couldn't find any other 606s with that counterweight.
Thank you!

Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:02 pm
by Doug Elliott
I edited so the image would show
That is a relatively modern counterweight...
If it really is an early 1900's horn that counterweight means nothing, it was added later.
Show the rest of the horn.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 7:31 am
by EriKon
shagiTrombone wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:25 pm
Hello! I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what model King this is based off the design of the counterweight? Serial number looks to date it around early 1900s? And any bell engravings that might've been there are gone.
I've only been able to find 1 other online where someone labeled it as a 606, but I'm not sure if that's actually it, since I couldn't find any other 606s with that counterweight.
Thank you!
Don't forget that King started over with their serial numbers at some point and went back to 1xx.xxx after 9xx.xxx
That was at some point around the 1980s where this counterweight was used as well. I have a mid 80s 3B which has this exact counterweight and it's original, serial number 1xx.xxx
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 7:54 pm
by shagiTrombone
Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:02 pm
I edited so the image would show
That is a relatively modern counterweight...
If it really is an early 1900's horn that counterweight means nothing, it was added later.
Show the rest of the horn.
Sorry to make you have to reformat the image - was it something I did wrong, or something that will just come along after I get full access to tbone chat?
Anyways, here's a full pic of the trombone:
As far as dating the horn, I think I mistook the part number for the bell section as the serial number, though I can't find an actual serial number anywhere else.
Thanks!
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 4:06 am
by BGuttman
I fixed your image cite. The horn looks like a King 606. Good beginner horn. Fine for a casual player or for those gigs where you fear for the safety of an expensive custom horn. Valuable? Not much. But a good player nonetheless.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 5:16 am
by harrisonreed
That is probably from the 80s or 90s, judging by the counterweight and case. Definitely not from the early 1900s, though the 90s seem like they were that long ago.
Kings from the early 1900's look like this:
94551 Artist Trombone Picture 4.jpg
94551 Artist Trombone Picture 2.jpg
94551 Artist Trombone Picture 1.jpg
They don't make them like that any more.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:09 am
by ithinknot
shagiTrombone wrote: ↑Mon Apr 24, 2023 7:54 pm
Anyways, here's a full pic of the trombone:
It's a 606, and your slide is upside down and will continue to dent the bell. Longest part (the tenon) goes next to the case hinge.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:34 am
by shagiTrombone
BGuttman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2023 4:06 am
I fixed your image cite. The horn looks like a King 606. Good beginner horn. Fine for a casual player or for those gigs where you fear for the safety of an expensive custom horn. Valuable? Not much. But a good player nonetheless.
Still confused as to why my images wont work, oh well - thanks for the reply! After playing on the same 2 horns for years and years, I'm only starting to look for more options, so the info is much appreciated.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:58 am
by BGuttman
shagiTrombone wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:34 am
BGuttman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2023 4:06 am
I fixed your image cite. The horn looks like a King 606. Good beginner horn. Fine for a casual player or for those gigs where you fear for the safety of an expensive custom horn. Valuable? Not much. But a good player nonetheless.
Still confused as to why my images wont work, oh well - thanks for the reply! After playing on the same 2 horns for years and years, I'm only starting to look for more options, so the info is much appreciated.
It appears you forgot to include the file type extension on your file (the .jpg). The way I do it is to right click on the image, select "Copy Image Address", and then paste the address between the IMG tags.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:10 am
by Doug Elliott
I took out the IMG tags, and then it showed the image.
I don't really know how it works, I just guessed.
Re: Unknown King Trombone Model
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 12:33 pm
by shagiTrombone
BGuttman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:58 am
It appears you forgot to include the file type extension on your file (the .jpg). The way I do it is to right click on the image, select "Copy Image Address", and then paste the address between the IMG tags.
Ah cool! That's much better than having to put it through an image hosting site.