Conn 6B Victor "Late Model"
Date: 1959-1972. Owner unknown.
Notice the "wide" wrap. "Late" models built from 1958 on had an adjustable finger ring and a coprion leadpipe (but not a coprion bell). The "late" mode, 6B had top spring valves. The "B" stamped on the mouthpiece receiver indicates this is a trumpet, not a cornet. The lacquered brass valve caps tell me the serial number of this instrument is not in the 7xx,xxx range, but somewhere between 8xx,xxx and Rxx,xxx.
The 1957 catalog says the 6B weighs 2 lbs 13 oz., however the later model 6B is definitely quite a bit less heavy than the Connstellation. Possibly the switch from bottom to top spring valves (thereby using less metal in the valve) lightened the instrument. It is also possible that as the 1960's wore on, Conn was forced to reduce cost and did this in part by using somewhat thinner metal thereby lightening the instrument. This would mean that the actual weight of the 6B "drops" at some model year(s). The "late" 6B Victor was produced from 1958 to at least 1983. Starting sometime in the early 1970's, probably 1971 when the factory moved to Abilene, the 6B didn't have the Coprion leadpipe anymore but a brass leadpipe. The 6B has a #1 bore (0.438").
How to tell a 6A Victor long cornet and a 6B Victor trumpet apart? The differences are quite subtle, but you should be able to tell if you know what you are looking for. All models for which there is both a long cornet and a trumpet (6A/6B, 10A/10B, 28A/38B) have a letter "A" or "B" stamped on the mouthpiece receiver. An "A" indicates a cornet leadpipe, a "B" indicates a trumpet leadpipe. The second way is to look at where the leadpipe widens out to accomodate the main tuning slide. On a trumpet this happens directly after the leadpipe finger hook, on a long cornet about an inch further down the leadpipe from the fingerhook. See picture.
Also see the 6B Victor "Early Model".
What Conn said in 1959:
Designed with new modern acoustical precision, this trumpet is another Conn "new tone advance" model. Victor
has challenged them all for half a century and this is another proud victor model that sets high in professional
performance. These features make a winning trumpet: Cali-Bore, clickeless Crysteel valves with exclusive pin
guide, brilliant trumpet tone seamless tone chamber. Also available: Lustrous satin silver plated finish
with bright gold bell.
What Conn said in 1966:
Vibrant and live sounding. Excellent for solo as well as ensemble work. Coprion mouthpipe. One-piece valve casing.
Micro finish mouthpipe. Length: 21½". Bell 5 1/8".