The Legacy of F.E. Olds & Son: American Craftsmanship in Brass
F.E. Olds & Son was one of the most innovative and respected brass instrument manufacturers in 20th-century America. The company was founded by Frank Ellsworth Olds, a skilled machinist and instrument maker who began building trombones in Los Angeles around 1910. Known for his precision craftsmanship, Frank Olds laid the groundwork for what would become a full-scale brass instrument company admired by professionals and educators alike.
After Frank’s death in 1928, the company was taken over by his son, Reginald Olds, who partnered with expert designer and craftsman Raphael “Doc” Garcia. Under their leadership, F.E. Olds & Son expanded its offerings, producing trumpets, cornets, and eventually a full line of brass instruments. The company’s trombones—particularly the Olds Super, Recording, Studio, and Ambassador models—gained national attention for their distinctive dual-bore designs, fluted slide tubes, and durable construction.
By the 1940s and 50s, Olds had become a household name in American band programs while also maintaining a strong presence among professional players. The Olds Super, with its fluted inner slide and dual bore layout, was especially popular with jazz and commercial trombonists. The Recording model, featuring a larger bore and nickel-silver bell, became a standout in symphonic and studio settings. Meanwhile, the Ambassador series offered rugged reliability for school band use—so well built that many are still playable today.
The company's instruments were produced at its factory in Fullerton, California, where a team of highly trained craftspeople turned out thousands of horns per year. Despite high demand, the company maintained a reputation for quality and innovation, even experimenting with early F-attachment designs, rotor systems, and rare configurations like the T.I.S. (Tuning-in-Slide) trombones of the 1920s.
F.E. Olds & Son was eventually sold to Norlin Music in the late 1960s. Production shifted during the 1970s, and by the early 1980s, the original Olds factory was shut down. Though the name continued under various ownerships, the pre-Norlin, California-built Olds instruments remain the most coveted by collectors and players.
The trombones featured in our Olds Historical Collection span decades of American brass history. From 1920s T.I.S. tuning-in-slide models to late 1940s Olds Super trombones, rare early Studio and Opera horns, and even the legendary George Roberts bass trombone, each instrument reflects the spirit of ingenuity and durability that defined the Olds legacy. This collection also includes a remarkable piece of history—the very last trombone ever produced by Olds in the late 1970s, affectionately known here as “The Last Super.” Whether you're researching a family heirloom or chasing the tonal magic of a handbuilt Recording model, this archive is dedicated to preserving the remarkable contributions of F.E. Olds & Son.
