Holton small and medium bore trombones

[Bach5G]

I don’t know much about Holton small/medium bore trombones. What models pre- and post- the LeBlanc purchase were similar in size to 2Bs and 3Bs? Maybe something like the Martin Urbie Green? Small bore Holtons get virtually no love whatsoever on this site.

[BGuttman]

As I understand them, the 65, 67, and 69 are all small bores.

I own a 67, also called Stratodyne. I'd call it equivalent to a Conn 48H. Great horn for big band. Great horn for Dixieland. Mine came from the estate of a guy who used it in both.

[officermayo]

My 1966 Special is .500.

[Doug Elliott]

I have one of these, which seems to be .500/.508 but I don't know if it had a model name or when it was from.

Should be around 1940, their movie Saps at Sea

[Finetales]

As far as I know:

62 = ?
63 = .480-.495"/7.5"
64 Resotone = ?
65 = .485"/7" or 7.5" rose brass
66 Galaxy = .485-.500"/7" (67 mandrel) all nickel
67 Stratodyne = .485"/7" rose brass
69 = .485"/8" rose brass - .481-.491
TR-100 Virtuoso = .500"/8" rose brass
TR-101 = .485/7.5" - .509"
TR-102 = .485"/7" - .485-.509"/8" or 7.75"
TR-401N Galaxy = .485-.500"/7 3/8"
TR-501 Special = .500"/8"
TR-602 = .500"/8" (student model)

[ithinknot]

Some of that isn't right...

My 69 is a .481-.491 dual; in the 2B manner, the stockings match so you can't tell just from flipping the outer slide.

TR-101 was a straight .509/7.5" yellow
TR-102 was a dual .495-.509/supposedly 8" yellow; the bell was obviously shared with the Martin Urbie, and the one I had, like some Urbies, was actually 7 3/4"

Both are super rare - I've only ever seen one of each for sale, and the TR-102 was mine... it was the first horn my parents bought for me.

[Finetales]

Corrections noted. This is just what I've been able to find out of the sparse information on the Internet.

[dcslideman]

I have a 1965 model 65 which I think I saw somewhere was the last year it was made. It was advertised as a Buddy Morrow endorsee. I can confirm .485" bore, bell just a shade under 7 1/2". Depending on semantics it has gold/rose bell. It plays big, much bigger than .485 would indicate, and can make a lot of volume if you want.

[chromebone]

The only pro-level medium bore they made that I’m aware of was the TR-161, which was made in the 90’s-early 2000’s.

[dzdz]

I use a TR-161. Nice .525 medium bore trombone.

[DaveAshley]

Martin Urbie Green horns were all built by Holton, and have Holton serial numbers.

[cb56]

Anyone know what mouthpiece was shipped with the 67 stratodyne? My dad had one and I think the marking on the mouthpiece said Holton 48 but not sure.

[dcslideman]

I have been meaning to post these pictures for awhile. I have heard there were 2 versions of the model 65. According to these two framed advertising pages I have, the redesign was in 1957 since it is "new". I have heard it ran until 1965(but can't confirm) and mine is a 1965 according to the serial number.

IMG_20240607_183724907.jpg

IMG_20240607_183812481.jpg

IMG_20240607_183836894.jpg

IMG_20240607_183851917.jpg

[atopper333]

There was also the Tr-602F

8 inch yellow bell at a .525 bore…

[dbwhitaker]

The 1956 Holton catalog lists these trombones:

65 - .485 bore, 7.5 bell
63 - duo-bore .480 and .495, 7.5 bell
160 - bore not given, 7.5 bell, "moderate priced...tone a bit lighter than 63 or 65"
168 - bass trombone with F attachment, 8.5 bell
166 - same as 168 but without F attachment

There is an extensive (but not complete) collection of Holton catalogs and online available here: https://www.saxophone.org/museum/public ... seumType/1
The dates of publication range from 1904 until 1982. Some of the catalogs have detailed information about the trombone models. Unfortunately the saxophone.org site makes it very difficult to look through the publications because each page is a separate file, and the initial view of each page is only a thumbnail size. But there is a lot of information if you're interested.

For example, the 1965 catalog lists a TR-301 with a duo-bore slide and 8 inch bell ... and "nickel-silver Micro-Taper leader pipe". That catalog also describes a TR-201, TR-302, TR-401, TR-501, TR-602.

[rzeilinger]

I am in possession of 2. Holton TR-501 Specials

Neither are a .500 bore.
Both of mine are .480 bore.

Those of you who claim yours is a .500 bore, would you take out your calipers and measure the inside of both of your inner tubes.

Thanks,

Ron

[Posaunus]

I am in possession of 2. Holton TR-501 Specials

Neither are a .500 bore.
Both of mine are .480 bore.

Those of you who claim yours is a .500 bore, would you take out your calipers and measure the inside of both of your inner tubes.

I expect that they are actually 0.485" (nominal) bore, since this was a standard tube size for Holton.

[Stan72]

Anyone know what mouthpiece was shipped with the 67 stratodyne? My dad had one and I think the marking on the mouthpiece said Holton 48 but not sure.

May 30 2025
Hello,
I own Holton Stratodyne 67, manufactured and purchased by my dad in mid 1950. It came with a Holton Model 82 mouthpiece.
Mouthpiece options from the 1950's Holton catalog:
Model 80: For high register, shallow cup, regular rim, smaller throat bore, extremely easy response in high register.
Model 81: Same as above with cushion rim for player comfort.
Model 82: Medium depth cup, regular rim, medium bore throat, powerful, full tone, easy response in all registers.
Model 82: Same as No. 92 with comfortable cushion rim.

All models were available in silver plating (standard) and gold plating (optional). I have the silver plated model.

This is a fantastic "dance band" and jazz horn! A pleasure to play!
Stan Dederich