The development of a serial number list has been very difficult because of the lack of official records. Mr. H. N. White kept very detailed records but when the company was sold to the Seeburg Corporation all official records were destroyed. When looking up the age of your instrument, complete the following steps: (1.) Find your instruments catalog page and year that the catalog was made. Pay special attention to the small details on your instrument because most artists drawings account for unique changes and features. (2.) Compare your findings to the serial number list. Please keep in mind that most catalogs were dated on the back and should be trusted more than the serial number list.
1/01/2008 We have reevaluated the serial number list to reflect new information. The number of instruments produced in the early years 1893-1905, has been reduced. The serial number lists are NOT 100% accurate. |
It's a Blessing artist (or super artist). I guess between 1945-1955. It's a very nice horn! I own a super artist trumpet, which is what Clifford Brown played. For some reason everyone I've ever told I own a blessing has told me this. I can't find a serial number, but I think it's an E K Blessing. 1946 Blessing Super Artist Trumpet for sale at ACB! Vintage E.K Blessing Super Artist Elkhart Ind Professional Trumpet, 1956. Blessing artist Eb/D Trumpet. 1906 1: 1935 28000: 1946 Sept. 41509: 1947: 41602: 1948: 44398: 1949: 47194: 1950: 49990: 1950 June 52001: 1951 June 55220: 1952 June 58400: 1953 June 61600: 1954 June. Vintage 1950's E K Blessing Standard MDL Trumpet Serial#51785 Plays Great! Blessing Super Artist Trumpet -Clifford Browns ️ Vintage.
Brass King Serial Numbers
Date | Serial Number |
1893-1899 | 1-4,000 |
1900-1903 | 4,001-6,000 |
1904-1905 | 6,001-9,000 |
1905-1910 | 9,001-25,000 |
1910-1915 | 25,001-40,000 |
1915-1925 | 40,001-78,000 |
1925-1930 | 78,001-126,000 |
1930-1935 | 126,001-176,000 |
1935-1936 | 176,001-186,000 |
1936-1937 | 186,001-200,000 |
1937-1938 | 200,001-212,000 |
1938-1939 | 212,001-225,000 |
1939-1940 | 225,001-239,000 |
1940-1941 | 239,001-254,000 |
1941-1942 | 254,001-264,000 |
1942-1945 | 264,001-267,500 |
1945-1946 | 267,501-277,000 |
1946-1947 | 277,001-287,000 |
1947-1948 | 287,001-296,500 |
1948-1949 | 296,501-301,500 |
1949-1950 | 301,501-308,000 |
1950-1951 | 308,001-316,500 |
1951-1952 | 316,501-322,000 |
1952-1953 | 322,001-330,000 |
1953-1954 | 330,001-337,000 |
1954-1955 | 337,001-340,000 |
1955-1960 | 340,001-370,000 |
1960-1965 | 370,000-406,500 |
1965-1970 | 406,501-457,600 |
String Serial Numbers
American Standard String Bass Serial Numbers | |
1934 001 1935 200 1936 400 1937 800 1938 1200 1939 1600 1940 2200 1942-1946 No Production WWII 1947 Limited Production 1949 1950 1951 1952 2450 1953 2600 1954 2800 1955 3000 1956 3200 1957 3400 1958 3600 1959 3800 1960 4000 1961 4200 1962 4400 1963 4600 1964 4800 1965 5000 | 1936 001 1937 185 1938 480 1939 790 1940 1010 1941 1320 1942-1946 No Production WWII 1947-1948 No Production 1949 1400 1950 1500 1951 1600 1952 1700 1953 1800 1954 1900 1955 2000 1956 2100 1957 2200 1958 2300 1959 2400 1960 2500 1961 2600 1962 2700 1963 2800 1964 2900 1965 3090 |
Cleveland and American Standard Serial Numbers:
Date | Serial Number |
1919-1930 | 1-10,000 |
1930-1935 | 10,000-30,000 |
1935-1940 | 30,000-40,000 |
1940-1945 | 40,000-45,000 |
1945-1950 | 45,000-50,000 |
1950-1955 | 50,000-65,000 |
1955-1960 | 65,000-100,000 |
1960-1965 | 100,000-160,000 |
1965-1970 | 160,000-420,000 |
All catalog pages are property of hnwhite.com and may not be reproduced or used without written consent.
Copyright ©2013, The H. N. White Company LLC
All Rights Reserved.
Years and Serial Numbers are Approximate.
Buescher Trumpet Serial numbers are most often found on the 2nd valve casing - OR if that is buffed off, check on one of the valves themselves! Pull out a valve and look on the section just below the button and stem. In MOST Buecher trumpets in the 1950s and earlier, you can find the serial number here as well.
Please see the Bell Logos section to see samples of each Bell Logo.
If your Buescher Trumpet/Cornet bares an engraving of an ELK on the bell, please see the note below the serial number chart.
Serial Number | Year Manufactured | Logo Type |
---|---|---|
Model Introduced: 'True Tone' 1890-1932 | ||
1 | 1888-1904 | |
1903 Fire in Elkhart plant destroys all prior records | ||
5000 | 1905 | |
5620 | 1906 | |
6610 | 1907 | |
7808 | 1908 | |
8580 | 1909 | |
11250 | 1910 | |
13685 | 1911 | |
15870 | 1912 | |
18178 | 1913 | |
22860 | 1914 | |
25103 | 1915 | |
28875 | 1916 | |
32350 | 1917 | |
37540 | 1918 | |
46975 | 1919 | |
61255 | 1920 | |
78525 | 1921 | |
99275 | 1922 | |
125750 | 1923 | |
150250 | 1924 | |
175275 | 1925 | |
202350 | 1926 | |
222175 | 1927 | |
235250 | 1928 | |
245250 | 1929 | |
255275 | 1930 | |
260125 | 1931 | |
Model Introduced: 'Aristocrat' 1932-1963 | ||
264025 | 1932 | |
265523 | 1933 | |
267356 | 1934 | |
268971 | 1935 | |
272896 | 1936 | |
279300 | 1937 | |
284418 | 1938 | |
288024 | 1939 | |
291336 | 1940 | |
Model Introduced: 'The 400' 1937-1966 (?)- Serial Range 283xxx - 438xxx | ||
294125 | 1941 | |
297527 | 1942 | |
303000 | 1945 | |
312000 | 1948 | |
316000 | 1949 | |
326000/332000* | 1950 | |
337000 | 1951 | |
347000 | 1952 | |
350000 | 1955 | |
360000 | 1960 | |
381000 | 1963 | |
About this time Selmer Purchased Buescher | ||
408000 | 1965 | |
520000 | 1970 | |
630000 | 1975 | |
785000 | 1980 | |
875000 | 1983 | |
- | - |
*1950 Serial number is different on various sites.. so I have listed BOTH numbers, I think the number MORE accurate would be 326000.
Please note that there are a FEW exceptions to this chart.
1) Some of the modern Buescher labeled trumpets from the 1970-present that have serial numbers that do not correspond to this chart. Most seem to have the 'Upsidedown Nike' Bell Logo and are model BU-7. Selmer must have done a serial number 'reset' at some point.
2) I have also noticed some of the 1960s 'Side Scroller' and possibly 'Top Scroller' logoed trumpets/cornets that have serial numbers in the 100,000 range. These obviously are NOT subject to this serial number chart. These are most likely mid to late 1960s instruments.
3) Most (if not all) Buescher trumpets that have the 'ELK' logo have a separate serial number listing. The Valve Block on these instruments are made by Elkhart and thus have a completely different numbering system.
Any Trumpet or Cornet with the engraving of an ELK (see below) will NOT match up on the Buescher Serial number list. They also bear the inscription 'BUILT BY BUESCHER'. These instruments had their OWN serial numbering system. Most were made post World War II possibly up to 1960. If you see one of these horns and the owner is claiming they are from the 1920s or 1930s or before, then they are using the wrong serial number chart. I do not know if an Elkhart Serial number list exists or not.
Big Thanks to Dr Rick's Vinllage Flute and Sax Shop website for providing some of the serial numbers and years produced.
I also gathered information for this page from MusicTrader.com website that cites Albert Mensinga as the source for MANY of the serial numbers.
If you happen to have any additional information that would make this chart MORE accurate, please feel free to email me.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this web site are for informational purposes only. This web site and its operator are not in the business of buying, selling or advertising musical instruments. The use of the information contained on this web site for purposes of buying, selling or advertising of musical instruments is at the risk of the buyer, seller or advertiser. The operator of this web site does not accept any responsibility for such use or any consequences thereof. Although an attempt is made to provide accurate information, no guarantee is given that the information on this web site is either correct or complete. Information contained on this website may reflect the opinion of the operator of this website.