Date: 1965. Instrument found on E-Bay
This is a coprion bell version of the "regular" (and ubiquitous) 1960's Director (15B). The instrument should have "Director" written on the mouthpiece receiver, although this one doesn't appear to have. Perhaps the mouthpiece receiver was replaced at some point. The Conn model number list gives both the 15B and 17B as "Director", 1960 through at least 1965. The 15B is listed as "#1 bore Bb&A Director Low Pitch", the 17B as "#1 bore Bb&A Director". However, the "Low Pitch/High Pitch" thing doesn't occur after the 20's so there must be another difference. This picture shows what is clearly a Director just like the "regular" Director except with a Coprion bell. I have received proof positive that the "regular", non-coprion 1960's Director is the 15B (see under 15B), the succesor to the 1950's 14B. The coprion version of the 15B Director is the 17B, just like the 18B is the coprion version of the 14B. The instrument is a #1 Bore (0.438") and has a 4 5/8" diameter coprion bell. It also has some nickel trim, but this is limited to a section of the leadpipe, as is clearly visible in this picture. Valves are bottom spring. The third slide finger ring and the screw that holds it is missing on this particular instrument, but the slot that it fits into is clearly visible. The mouthpiece on this particular instrument is almost certainly not original, because original Conn mouthpieces of the time had a distinctive sleek design. For an example of that see the 77B Connquest drawing.
What Conn said in 1962: What Conn said in 1966: |