423.233.2

Valve trombone, Bimbonifono in F, brass body, German silver valve fittings. Seven rotary valves, fingered as on a woodwind instrument. Plated brass mouthpiece probably not original. Denting in bell expansion and at bell rim. Stamped: 'SISTEMA/BIMBONI/BREVETTATO' on the bell.

Nineteenth century musical instrument makers explored all the musical possibilities offered by valves. The Bimbonifono represents the height of such experiments. Giovacchino Bimboni replaced the fragile slide of the trombone with a rotary valve for each of the seven slide positions, in an attempt to avoid the tuning problems of two- and three-valve systems.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
14.5.47/315
Date
circa 1850
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 805 x 170 x 185 mm; bell: 145 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
copper alloy; silver; metal
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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