[Dixielandjazz] Valve Trombones

[Robert Smith]

It is, of course, impossible to have a three or four valve instrument that 
is in tune over the whole range. Therefore, in my opinion, all brass 
instruments should be equipped with a slide instead of valves, so that they 
can be played in tune over the whole range without the necessity of 
"bending" some notes.

French Horns would have to be radically redesigned, and tubas would need a 
double slide, as the slide would have to have a reach of nearly 1½ metres.

This can be overcome by having two slides side-by-side joined together. The 
mouthpiece would be fitted to the top piston of the right-hand slide, and 
the bottom piston would feed into a semi-circular tube at the mouthpiece end 
leading to the top piston of the left-hand slide which would lead to the 
bottom piston connected to the tube leading to the bell.

The weight of such a slide would necessitate some form of roller table 
support.

Cheers

Bob Smith