FE Olds

The "real" FE Olds shut up shop in 1979 or thereabouts. Vintage models like the Recording and
Super manufactured in California during the heyday of the company remain highly-prized even
today. Established circa 1915 in Los Angeles 1915, initial Olds trombone models all had in-slide
tuning. Bell-tuning models were introduced in the 1920s. In 1953, Olds moved from Los
Angeles to Fullerton. Circa 1961, Olds was sold to Norlin. Norlin concentrated on production of
the Ambassador student model, but were eventually forced to concede the student trombone
market to Yamaha, resulting in the liquidation of Olds circa 1977. The Olds name was bought
and is currently being used by a New Jersey company. These newer instruments are not as
highly thought of. The descriptions below refer to instruments of the older variety.
Early in the history of FE Olds, there were essentially two ranges: Standard and Military.
Towards the middle of the century, the number of ranges proliferated. In ascending order of
prestige (generally-speaking), they were the: Ambassador, Special, Studio, Super, Recording,
Opera, Custom. Amongst the bass trombones, the Super and Custom were considered the
superior lines, particularly the George Roberts model.
A significant amount of the information about Olds trombones below was very kindly provided
by Eric Burger.
New! Gordon Cherry has very kindly given permission for his Olds trombone serial number list
to be reproduced on this site. Click here here to view it.

Ambassador series Excellent quality student instruments, assuming

manufactured in the 50s and early 60s or
earlier. Quality suffered thereafter due to over-
emphasis on fulfilling production quotas.
Ambassador A15 .485/.500 7.5 Chrome-plated nickel-silver inner slide tubes.
Silver finish available.
Ambassador A20 .510/.525(?) 8.5 Student-quality bass trombone with flat-wrap F
attachment. Chrome-plated nickel-silver inner
slide tubes. Bore size smaller than would be
considered "bass bore" today.

Custom series Top notch professional instruments.

Custom P15 .500 8 Thin-gauge bell, possibly yellow brass.
Nickel-silver outer slide.
Custom P16 .500 7.5 Heavy-weight bell, lightweight brass outer
slide.
George Roberts .565 9 F Professional bass instrument. Light yellow
P22 brass bell, .585 F attachment.
Custom P24 .565 9 F Professional bass instrument. 9 inch bell, .585
F attachment.
George Roberts .565 9 F/G Professional bass instrument. 9 inch bell, .585
P24G bore independent attachments. G trigger on
first finger.

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Military 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 and 8 inch tenor bells with four
bore sizes. Bass model has F attachment.
Military S6 .485 6
Military S6.5 .485 6.5
Military M7 .485/.500 7
Military LM7 .495/.510 7
Military LM7.5 .495/.510 7.5
Military L8 .510/.525 8 F attachment available.

Opera series Professional instruments.

Opera O15 .547 8.5 Symphonic bore instrument. Nickel-silver
thin-gauge bell.
Opera Fanfare .547 8.5 Symphonic bore instrument. Yellow brass bell.
O115
Opera O23 .547 8.5 F Symphonic bore instrument. Nickel-silver
thin-gauge bell.
Symphony O25 .554 8.5 F Red brass bell.
Valve O20 .500 7.5 Valve trombone.
Marching O21 .500

Radio
Radio R7 .510/.525 7.5 Compact.
Radio R7.5 .510/.525 7.5 Compact

Recording series Popular professional-quality instruments, with

red brass or bronze bell. Dark and lively sound.
Recording R15 .495/.510 8.0 Medium bore jazz horn, cf. King 3B. Dual
bore "Re-O-loy" or nickel-silver outer slides,
chrome-plated nickel-silver inner slide tubes,
may be fluted. "Re-O-loy" or red brass bell.
Recording R20 .495/.510 8.5 Professional bass trombone with flat-wrap F
attachment. Bore size smaller than would be
considered "bass bore" today.

Self-Balancing Tenor bell sizes 7, 7½ or 8 inches and three

bore sizes.
Self-Balancing .485/.500 7
M7
Self-Balancing .495/.510 7.5
LM7
Self-Balancing .495/.510 7.5
LM7.5
Self-Balancing L8 .510/.525 8 F attachment available.

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Special series Marketed as intermediate instruments, but said
by many to play very much like professional
instruments. Developed from the Military
series.
Special L15 Dual bore, chrome-plated nickel-silver inner
slide tubes, may be fluted.

Standard Tenor bell sizes 6, 7, 7 1/2 or 8 inches and four

bore sizes. Tuning in slide. Bass version has F
attachment.
Standard M7 .485/.500 7 Tuning in slide.
Standard LM-7 .495/.510 7
Standard LM7 .495/.510 7.5
Standard L8 .510/.525 8 F attachment available.

Studio series Professional instruments. Nickel-silver tuning

slide and bell, yellow brass neck resulting in
dark sound normally associated with heavy
bells, but without the corresponding weight.
Studio T15 .485/.500 7.5 Brass outer slides, chrome-plated nickel-silver
inner slide tubes, may be fluted. Nickel-silver
tuning slide and bell.

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Super series Professional instruments. Pure bronze bell
(very heavy) with tone control ring, rest of
instrument nickel silver. Bell design results in a
very dark and centred tone.
Super S15 .485/.500 7.5 Jazz horn. Dual bore, inner slide tubes fluted.
Pure bronze bell with tone ring (or possibly
heavy red brass bell according to Eric Burger),
rest of instrument nickel silver. Click here to
read a review on a 1930s Olds Super.
Super FW SF15 .485/.500 7 Jazz instrument. Dual bore, inner slide tubes
fluted (although Steve Close, who has "a
completely original Featherweight", says his
instrument "uses standard inners with shortened
stockings"). Possibly a light red brass bell
(according to Eric Burger), rest of instrument
nickel silver; Steve Close says his example "is
all nickel with the exception of a red brass bell"
and that "Olds referred to this alloy as “Bell
Bronze” and it is the same alloy used in the S15
Super".
Super S20 .547(?) 9 F Professional bass trombone with flat-wrap F
attachment. Pure bronze bell with tone ring (or
possibly heavy red brass bell according to Eric
Burger). Tuning in slide.
Super S22 George .565 9 F Professional bass trombone designed by the
Roberts legendary bass trombonist George Roberts.
Tuning in slide.
Super S23 9/10 F/E Professional bass trombone with F attachment
and dependent E valve. 9 or 10 inch bell.
Tuning in slide.
Super S24G .565 9 F/G

Superstar series
Superstar V20 .495/.510 8.5 F Silver-plated.
Superstar V25 .565 10 F Silver-plated.

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