Conn 10H Victor with Coprion Bell
Top: Date: 1960. Owner unknown
Bottom: Date: 1958, Owned by F. Leland Jones
Notice the 8" coprion bell. This is the trombone equivalent to the 10A cornet and 10B trumpet. It is also essentially a 6H Victor with a Coprion bell, and the bell and slide sections should be interchangeable between the two models. The 10H was 45¾" long and weighed 3 lbs. 5 oz, and had a #3 (0.500") bore. It would appear that the person who assembled the trombone in the top picture is either left handed or doesn't know how to properly assemble a trombone; the slide should normally be rotated 180 degrees, with the bell to the players left and not to the players right as is the case here. It should be properly assembled as in the bottom picture. The 10H was produced from 1955 to 1963.
The 10H has been described by people who have played it in various ways. "The 10H plays awesome; responsive, flexible, excellent sound throughout, holds together great at volume, locks in in all registers. For me it brightens up at just the right volume without getting too edgy." That is the kind of description Conn would agree with. They probably wouldn't like this description though: "There is a reason for their rarity. Coprion bells are too excitable. Dull and woofy when not pushed, transitioning abruptly to ringing all over the place when pushed hard. The manic depressives of the Conn family. They are OK at about mf, though. I mean... if you are going to play a Conn-like horn, it's mainly because they are elegant and a little... reticent about their emotions compared to Bachs and Kings, right? Restrainedly strong. Slightly understated. Why let bipolar Uncle Cope out of the house?"
What Conn said in 1956:
All new model featuring famous Coprion seamless bell and Crysteel Airfloat slides plus medium large bore.
Long slide bearing gives fast, positive action in 6th and 7th positions. Outside slide is of special Conn bearing formula,
for strength and durability. Length 45¾", weight 3 lbs. 5 oz., bell diameter 8".
What Conn said in 1959:
New model with medium-large bore plus the famous seamless Coprion bell. Designed for the player who wants a "bigger tone" and
smoother performance. Patterned after the finest (Connstellation), the following features "make" this an "artist" model:
seamless Coprion bell, Airfloat Crysteel slides, long slide bearing, Lustre-Conn finish.
What Conn said in 1963:
These excellent band instruments [other is 6H] both have 8" bells. 10H is a large, free blowing instrument with a solid tone
that does not chatter at full volume. Coprion bell with brass and nickel trim. Complete with Connstellation case.