WHERE ARE ATKINSON HORNS MADE?
I just got back from spending the afternoon with Mark Atkinson of Atkinson Brass Company. All the horns and all the horn parts are made and assembled at his shop in Burbank. His metal is shipped in from the NorthEasterrn United States.
The question came up earlier why are some only $4,000.00 and some $7,000.00 plus? The answer is the less expensive Urfurt/Kruspe models are made pretty much with the stock pipe that is delivered. The more expensive Geyer models are made with thinner walled tubes. This requires 'pulling' them, perhaps several times and results in some damaged tubes that need to be discarded and higher labor costs because of the additional time spent on the instrument. Also the Erfurt models are generally being made with a 2 part bell (less labor) and the Geyers models are beign made with a one piece bell. Again,more time is spent on the Geyer model bell and also there are more reject pieces.
He and his crew make thier own slides, tubes, braces, rotor valves, and valve casings. I hope this answer many of your questions.
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