Date: 1941. Photo courtesy Randy Cole.
At first glance this might be a standard 26A Director, if a bit late in its production run. However, on closer inspection there are several differences: First, there is no main tuning slide in the normal place. The curve from the leadpipe to into the 1st valve is shorter (closer to the player) than on a standard 26A. The lack of a main tuning slide means that all the tuning was to be done with the slide coming out of the 3rd valve into the bell. Perhaps as a consequence of this, the tubing out of the 3rd slide into this bell tuning slide is straight. On a standard 26A there is a slight S-curve there.