Hi, this is the 3rd time (I think) I've posted anything at all in this group
and I was wondering if any of you happen to have seen, have, and/or played a
Conn piccolo. I happen to have a small collection of Conn piccolos (3 of
them) and I haven't seen too many of them for sale online nor on ebay, etc.
with the flute-style trill keys like my 3 have. Here's a picture of a
Reynolds piccolo I have with the flute-style trill keys to show those of you
that have no idea what I'm talking about (
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Does anyone by chance know where I could find Conn piccolo parts (headless
pivot screws, a D# assembly, etc.)? The oldest Conn piccolo I have only has
the number '28' inscribed on it (I've taken it completely apart and there
are no other markings to indicate a longer serial number) and is made of
hard rubber (ebonite) with a metal covering but, quite unfortunately, I
purchased it with a missing D# assembly (no D# posts, screw, nor key). The
piccolo has the flute-style trill keys and is also open-ring keyed and, if
the serial number is, infact '28', it was made in 1896 I think it was. The 2
other Conn piccolos I have are metal bodied with hard rubber (ebonite)
headjoints. Of the other piccolos, one is in Db and marked Conn USN with
serial number 12145 with a satin silver finish while the other is in the key
of C, marked Pan American, serial number 12170 (25 digits apart from the
Db), and solid nickel bodied. The problem I have with the Pan American is
that I managed to lose the pivot screws for the trill key posts and can't
seem to find where I can order replacement screws. Does anyone by chance
know where I can order either the screws and/or the D# assembly for the
hard-rubber bodied piccolo? Also, I'm not sure if anyone else has a
fascination with the piccolos with flute-style trill keys but does anyone
know why in the world they stopped manufacturing piccolos with trill keys
like this? As far as I know only Conn and Gemeinhardt (Reynolds, by
Gemeinhardt, as well) manufactured piccolos with this style of trill keys
but I'm unable to find out anything more regarding the subject. Also, does
anyone know any age range when they stopped manufacturing (any company)
ring-key piccolos? I happen to have an old Buffet Db piccolo with ring-key
mech. as well and can't seem to educate myself on when they started and
stopped manufacturing the open-ring piccolos. Also, does anyone know the
date range (in years) when Buffet made piccolos? Are the grenadilla Buffet
piccolos worth anything? It's also got the flute-style trill key setup if
that helps dating theories anyone may have. I bought this piccolo for about
$76 in July but a chunk of the piccolo was chunked off which I'm fixing but
I'm thinking of just keeping it once I'm finished since it has the trill
keys that I like. Sorry for rambling so much, I don't have anyone to ask any
of this to and hope some of you have any ideas. thanks alot -Suzie-