Picture this: you're organizing your school's band storage closet—half rehearsal room, half Smithsonian—and buried behind cracked timpani heads and 1970s bell lyres, you find… a double-belled euphonium?
If you're a new or young music teacher, you've probably encountered some head-scratching donations or mysterious horns from long-forgotten eras. While they may look like museum pieces (and sometimes smell like them too), these instruments once had a place on stage or in the marching block.
Let’s take a light-hearted but informative look at 10 band instruments from the 20th century that fell out of popularity. And yes, some of these might still technically work. Whether you want to display them, repurpose them, or keep them for "experimental jazz ensemble" use, knowing their history is the first step.
1. Double-Belled Euphonium
This Frankenstein of the brass world had its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The player could switch between two bells, producing different timbres. The B-flat side was a little darker and the F side was a little brighter.
Why it fell out: It’s heavy, unwieldy, and the extra bell was more of a novelty than a necessity. Modern composers rarely write for it.
If you find one: Great for display, or to impress your low brass section.
👉Pro Tip: Classroom Management is a lot more difficult with this beast. If you thought keeping kids from playing basketball with the sousaphone bell is hard, this thing has double the chances of landing a goal. If you have one, keep it away from large ensembles.
2. Conn-O-Sax
Why it fell out: Too odd to fit in anywhere. It never caught on, and few were made.
If you find one: It's probably worth thousands to a collector. Do not send this one to the beginners.
Want to learn more? Visit: Conn History - National Music Museum
3. Sarrusophone
Why it fell out: Loud, brash, and difficult to tame. Once saxophones became common, the sarrusophone was left behind.
If you find one: It might belong in a museum. Or with that one weird reed player who's “up for a challenge.”
For more info visit: Spotlight on the Sarrusophone
4. Bass Saxophone (for marching bands)
Used in some early 20th-century marching bands, the bass saxophone was a visual and sonic spectacle.
Why it fell out: Extremely heavy, fragile, and hard to transport. Sousaphones were much more practical.
If you find one: Take a photo before someone drops it. Then store it carefully or sell it to a vintage sax collector.
Wanna Buy One? Bring your checkbook: Selmer Paris Series II Bass Saxophone
5. Frumpet
Yes, it’s real. The frumpet is a hybrid brass instrument that combines elements of the French horn and trumpet, originally designed by Conn in the mid-20th century. It features a compact, coiled body similar to a horn but uses a trumpet-style mouthpiece and piston valves.
Why it fell out: The frumpet never really “fell” from popularity—it just never rose to begin with. It was too odd for trumpeters and too direct-sounding for horn players. Its awkward identity made it the brass equivalent of a middle schooler trying to figure out which lunch table to sit at.
If you find one: It’s a conversation piece more than a concert staple. Still, it could be useful for a student transitioning between trumpet and horn, or for that brass player who just wants to be extra in jazz band.
What's it sound like?: Mellophone vs. Frumpet
6. Alto Clarinet
Once a staple of the concert band midsection, the alto clarinet has largely vanished from modern wind band writing.
Why it fell out: Weak tone, limited use, and composers dropped it like a bad reed.
If you find one: Use it for teaching transposition… or as a prop in the school play. Seriously though, no clarinet ensemble sounds full or complete without it.
Want to know more?: Why the Alto Clarinet Is Disappearing - Clarinet.org
7. Valve Trombone
Yes, it’s a trombone with valves instead of a slide. Popular in early jazz and military bands.
Why it fell out: The slide gives the trombone its signature gliss. Valve trombones lost the expressive magic. Additionally, intonation is a significant problem for less experienced players.
If you find one: It can be used in jazz band if you're short on players… or to prank your trombone section.
What does it sound like? Listen to Jazz great Maynard Ferguson playing the valve trombone
8. Ophicleide
A keyed brass instrument that predates the tuba, the ophicleide sounds like a bass bugle from another universe.
Why it fell out: The invention of the tuba made it instantly obsolete.
If you find one: Take a bow. You’ve won the School Band Oddities Bingo.
For more info: Meet the Ophicleide - BBC Music
See it in action: Ophicleide playing
9. D-flat Piccolo
Once a common staple in early American and British military bands, the D-flat piccolo was pitched a half step above the modern C piccolo and often used to match the old D-flat flute and B-flat cornets of the time.
Why it fell out: As bands standardized instrumentation (thank you, John Philip Sousa), D-flat instruments became outliers. Modern piccolos are in C, and virtually all modern band music is written accordingly. Trying to use a D-flat piccolo today is like trying to text with a rotary phone. But seriously. If a piccolo player is playing in a concert band and that piece is in B-flat major, the D-flat piccolo part will be in A major. Yikes! For young players, this is an impossible intonation challenge.
If you find one: It’s a great piece of history—and a great tool for teaching transposition nightmares. It’s also a helpful reminder that standardization is your friend.
External Link: History of the Piccolo – FluteHistory.com
Bonus: 11. Metal Clarinet (Silva Bet)
Yes, clarinets weren’t always made of wood (or plastic). In the early to mid-20th century, metal clarinets—usually made of nickel, silver, or other alloys—were mass-produced by companies like Conn, Bundy, and Selmer. They were cheap, durable, and loud.
Why it fell out: Despite their resilience, metal clarinets had a thin, buzzy tone that lacked the warmth and nuance of their wooden counterparts. As student clarinet designs improved, schools and pros alike left the metal models in the closet (literally and figuratively).
If you find one: It may still play, but don’t hand it to your first chair. They make great teaching tools or display pieces—and some vintage models (like the Conn “Reso-Tone”) are collectible.
Read more: The Rise and Fall of Metal Clarinets – ClarinetPages.net
So… What Do You Do With These Relics?
Here are some quick, practical tips for young directors who stumble upon these instruments:
Appraise before you toss. Some rare instruments have serious vintage value. As always, this is school property. Make sure you talk to your principal or finance officer before you surplus any item. If you teach long enough you will learn about directors who have been fired and have had to serve jail sentences for not surplussing instruments correctly.
Call your local instrument repair tech. They might help you ID and restore rare gear.
Start a display case. A little band history goes a long way in building pride and curiosity.
Use them for recruiting. Kids love weird horns.
Final Thoughts: Not Junk, Just Vintage
Finding odd instruments in your band closet can be frustrating—but it can also be a fascinating look into musical history. Many of these "extinct" instruments played a role in shaping the modern concert band. Some even enjoy a small cult following among professional players and collectors.
So next time a well-meaning parent donates an instrument you can't identify, resist the urge to toss it in the dumpster. You might just have a musical fossil—or even a rare gem—on your hands.
Post a Comment