Trumpet owned by Louis Armstrong

Object Details

Created by: Henri Selmer Paris, French, founded 1885; Vincent Bach Corporation, American, founded 1918
Owned by: Louis Armstrong, American, 1901 - 1971

Caption: This 1946 Henri Selmer B-flat custom-made and inscribed trumpet belonged to Louis Armstrong. Armstrong had been playing an earlier version of a Selmer trumpet since 1932. Even though he believed you could play a trumpet for a long time, he had the habit of playing his trumpets for approximately five years before he passed it on as a gift to a friend or colleague. In February 1946, Armstrong’s manager and close friend, Joe Glaser, wrote to Selmer Instrument Company and asked for a new trumpet custom-made for Armstrong’s use. Selmer agreed and presented him with this inscribed Selmer B-flat trumpet. This personally inscribed trumpet was made only for Armstrong and was not mass produced.
Description: A brass trumpet with mouthpiece and case. The trumpet has a Henri Selmer Paris inscription near the bell and valve case, and "Louis Armstrong" is engraved on the leadpipe.

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

September 1946

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Musical Instruments

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59839eca5-786d-4261-acf3-1d264ee3a271