TromboneChat

I recently acquired a custom horn from another player and hoping to find out more about it. This horn struck me as unique, in that it’s a JD Bruycker “copper” bell that is 8 7/8 in diameter but on a “Williams 6” style frame. And had a custom silver plated king 3b slide with a fixed leadpipe that’s aftermarket. The peculiar thing about this trombone is that it has a custom counterweight that is personalized saying “Chuck” and on the reverse “from DOC”
I may be stretching out on a limb here, but I’m leaning towards this may have been one of Chuck Findleys horn given to him from Doc seversen back in the tonight show band. I’ve reached out to Chuck, but his website is down and have tried FB, but to no avail. If any of you guys can help me out, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

The counterweight doesn’t look like Joe’s work.

Here is a photo of a counterweight that came with a DeBruycker I bought a few years ago.

The story I heard was that Vancouver legend ex-Harry James’ lead bone Dave Robbins took his Williams in to Joe who said he could make Dave a better horn.

Joe initially got his slides from Bach. After Bach cut him off, you had to source your own slides. King slides were a popular choice.

Joe’s shop was in Surrey BC, that is, on the West Coast. He was making bells from about the late 70s to the mid to late 90s. He passed away in 2005.

Nice looking horn.

Yes, he only made bells, for other slides.
Benn can probably tell you a lot more when he sees this.

And it's DeBruycker

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:31 pm Yes, he only made bells, for other slides.
Benn can probably tell you a lot more when he sees this.

And it's DeBruycker

My DeBruycker came with a Bach 16 slide and a couple of lead pipes, likely the original and one Joe made himself. I preferred the original. Along the way I acquired a much newer Bach 12 slide but the threads didn’t quite match up.

Does anyone know how to reach Chuck Findley? His website is down and think this may have been one of his bones. I’ve read previous post about jds bass bells, and this is almost the size of a bass bell. But if he only made bells, and outsourced the slides from Bach and king, I’m curious on what he used for the rest of the bell section?

Minus the Canadian coin I think the counterweight looks identical to yours in size and set screw

Joe told me several times I should buy one of his bells but my impression was that you could get any size of bell you wanted as long as it was 8”. But recently I’ve seen a couple of De Bruycker tenors with ~8 1/2 inch bells.

I can’t think of anyone locally who has a De Bruycker counterweight on his horn (other than the one above). But I expect Joe could easily have made one as a special order. I agree, remove the coins, the counterweights do look similar.

There’s a story about a De Bruycker bass bell that bounced around Cascadia. I had a chance to buy it from someone in Lake Stevens IIRC. I think it found its way to the Olympic peninsula. Maybe Benn will weigh in.

This is an old thread, but I have the last complete De Bruycker bell......a King SBf that was left in the shop with a few unfinished pieces he had planned to work.