Conn 88H Special, circa 1952
This Conn 88H trombone was built in 1952 in Elkhart, Indiana, and is a late 300,000 serial number. The bell section has a special order red brass 9” bell (which is very thin, about .017” thickness at the flare). Additionally, the instrument is stamped as an “8H”. From what I understand, prominent trombonists were able to special order 8H trombones with F attachments before the formal introduction of the model in 1954. The tuning slide has a nickel silver dent guard and the slide has thick braces, both nice features of the early1950’s 8H and 88H instruments. I’ve not seen another elkhart 88H with a 9” bell. Anyone out there on the interwebs have a similar instrument, please email me.
