c. 1836—Lyon, France

A trade-card depicting the Distin Family Brass Quintet, an ensemble known for adopting Adolph Sax’s valve instruments, includes a member holding a slide trombone, indicating the instrument was probably used at least during the early days of the ensemble (Baines, Brass plate XI). According to Dudgeon, “The early quintet performances of the Distin family used various combinations of keyed bugle, cornopean, slide trumpet, natural horns, and trombone; all made by the firm of Pace. By 1844, the Distins met Adolph Sax and made the switch to valved saxhorns” (Dudgeon, Keyed Bugle 28).