1663—Nuremberg, Germany

Manufacture date of an alto trombone by Michael Nagel of Nuremberg, one of the earliest extant models. Pitched in E-flat, it is labeled “Macht Michael Nagel, Nurnb., 1663” and features a detachable stay on the bell, with tubular stays on the slide (possibly added at a later date). Less ornate than many older trombones, the instrument may mark the beginning of a trend of Nuremberg manufacturers toward more utilitarian appearance of instruments. The instrument is held at Horniman Museum in London (Carse, Collection 68; Gregory 35, 52).  According to the museum website, it is a composite instrument: “It embodies parts of an old trombone: the eyeleted bows are from another source, probably a trumpet; the bell garland and the detachable stay are likely to be contemporary with the reconstruction; the sleeves are of several different designs and of different dates; the associated mouthpiece is of a later date and inappropriate” (horniman.ac.uk). According to both the museum website and Herbert, the instrument’s pitch is D, not E-flat (horniman.ac.uk; Hebert, Trombone 313).