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FB: cool old Cerveny $1,100 (Hillsdale, MI)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 9:31 am
by arpthark
Re: FB: cool old Cerveny $1,100 (Hillsdale, MI)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 1:51 pm
by tubatodd
Chicago, IL?? That is confusing.
Re: FB: cool old Cerveny $1,100 (Hillsdale, MI)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:08 pm
by arpthark
tubatodd wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 1:51 pm
Chicago, IL?? That is confusing.
Vitak in Chicago was the main importer of Cerveny instruments in the first half of the 20th century.
Re: FB: cool old Cerveny $1,100 (Hillsdale, MI)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 7:29 am
by Tim Jackson
I had one of these years ago. The tone is amazing. The build is incredible as well. Best I could tell, mine was from around 1900. The Vitak emblem was present but a little more ornate. At that time, I found articles on the web discussing the unique brass alloy of these instruments, accounting for the spectacular tone. Notice the sweeping curves of the 4th valve branch and the 2nd slide expanded loop. The rotors were slightly tapered so that as they wear, they just ease down and continue to compress. Plain with no fancy engraving or bell garland... just a great player, good intonation, and killer tone.
I have to admit, with the rocker arms and clock springs, it was a little like taking a Model-T around the block.
But the sound... like none other! I hadn't planned on letting it go, but I sent it up to Lee Stofer for tweaks and a customer made a nice offer on it.
It was easily a 5/4; if not a 6/4. I had a nice Holton at the time that was more feasible as my main player. I guess what folks call this a Kaiser.
I sold mine years ago for twice the price. 1K for a horn like this is a great deal.
TJ
Re: FB: cool old Cerveny $1,100 (Hillsdale, MI)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 7:38 am
by arpthark
Features like the cork bumpers being a part of the lever mechanism instead of the backing plate, round (as opposed to square-ish) valve paddles, adjustable-tension clockspring (see the knobs?) and the Vitak emblem make me think this is at least from the 1930s, if not older. It's in pretty fine shape for the age. Definitely looks 5/4-ish sized to me, maybe a bit smaller than the modern 601 BBb kaiser.
The thermometer bulb 2nd valve slide and big open 4th valve tubing circuit are features that Cerveny kept well into the 1970s. I had a '70s Piggy that had those. It's interesting how some things are kept from generation to generation, even after the CSSR regime took hold and QC dipped.
