Conn New Wonder Bass
Date: 1917. Owned by Ezra Harris
This bass trombone is exactly like what Conn's 1919 catalog calls the New Wonder Bass Trombone. As you can see from the picture it is tuning in slide. The rotary valve was operated by putting your thumb in the leather strap. It has a #4½ (0.547") bore.
What Conn said in 1919:
The New Wonder BASS Slide Trombone is a most necessary instrument in any good sized Band or Concert Orchestra. It
has been too seldom in evidence in American Organizations. It will however, be found in all of our leading
Concert Bands, Symphony and Grand Opera Orchestras. The need of the Bass trombone is primarily to fill the gap
between the smaller trombones and the Basses. It adds to the sonority of the lower tone color of the music
rendered and possesses a quality all its own which is most pleasing. The Conn Bass Trombones can be furnished
with either Piston or Rotary valve.
The instrument is built in Bband by the use of the valve it is thrown in the key of F. It is seldom if ever
ordered in high pitch but can be furnished in that pitch or the more preferable Low pitch as desired.
The Conn Bass Trombones are used in most all of the leading Symphony and Grand Opera Orchestras and
Concert Bands in America. They are pronounced as far as surpassing those of other makes. The Conn factory specializes
in Bass Trombones.
NOTE: On special order we can furnish the Bass Trombone in G and F, in Eb or in BBb. Write for quotations on
these.