The Vega Company
Boston, Massachusetts
Charles E. George Trumpet
#21313 c.1921

Model: Standard / Charles E. George / LB-5
Key: Bb/A
Length: 20 "
Bell: #5 = 4.65"
Bore: LB = 0.468"
Finish: Gold-plated

I searched for many years to find the rare Vega trumpet with the LB-5 combination of their large bore with #5 bell. I had owned a number of Vegas over the years, but they were always the more common small-bore version with either the #3 or #4 bell.

This example had some poor listing photos and it seemed to be missing the first valve. I sent a message to the seller and he sent me a photo of the valve which was still inside; just missing the cap, stem, and finger button. Since I had a parts horn with these pieces, I decided to take my chances that they would fit.

Here are two of the original listing photos. Apart from the missing valve parts, it seemed to be pretty straight. Do you see anything odd here? The finger ring is mounted on the bell and there is plating wear on the upper and lower sections of lead pipe. The wear pattern fit perfectly with the original owner being left-handed.

The coveted "LB-5" marking. The patent shows that this used valves made by Blessing.

What a surprise when I received this that it was actually gold-plated!! The listing photos were in bright sunlight so I had assumed it was silver-plated. Below are more photos before any restoration was started. I have added my spare parts for the first valve.

Here it is all apart and ready for assembly. I still need to polish the silver plating off the first valve pieces to better match the gold. The plating was in really good condition.

All finished and playing great! The original Vega third slide ring was missing and these are a smaller shaft size than most trumpets so I modified a more modern one to fit. My experience with the originals is that they were made too small and the thinner ring is not as comfortable to use. The pinky ring is back where it belongs, but it did leave a mark on the bell.

One interesting thing to note about Vega trumpets is that the bell braces match those used by Keefer in Williamsport, PA. It's possible that Vega sourced them from Keefer.

I added this period Vega George #2 mouthpiece.

This ad is from the 1918 "Musical Messenger" magazine and tells some construction details.

Another ad from "Jacobs Monthly" in 1921.