This instrument was ordered specially and has a long wait as it is a Schilke B1-L in silver plate with an extra Beryllium Bell - to order the trumpet with either bell is relatively simple but to get one with both bells is special order and takes forever. To order now would cost around £3,000
Unfortunately once received I have found that the playing I am doing has changed and I have no real need of this type of instrument and a good all round trumpet suits me better. Apart from test blowing in the living room and one or trips to a rehearsal this instrument has never been played.
Due to the fragile nature of the beryllium bell - I am not happy to ship and would prefer buyer to collect or I would be happy to drive half way to a meet.
Below are some articles and references from The Schilke loyalist
Model B1 Bb Trumpet
Bore: ML -.460" (11.68 mm)
Bell: L – 5" (127.00 mm) Yellow Brass Bell with #1 taper
The B1 was the preferred Bb trumpet of Renold Schilke and the basis in design for the other B series instruments. Distinguished by its free and open feel, this trumpet is among our most popular models, allowing the player the diversity in sound color from a rich, full bodied dark sound to a brilliant ringing tone when desired.
Detachable Bells
The Schilke catalog states: "Detachable tuning-bells are available on all Schilke custom built trumpets. The advantage of the tuning bell feature is that the tuning slide can be left all the way in or moved only a little, thereby keeping the bore relatively free of gaps that may cause a disturbance in the nodal pattern of the sound wave. Another advantage is that different bells of varying sizes and materials can be used to change some of the characteristics of the instrument. The main drawback to the tuning-bell instrument is that it is more fragile because of the lack of the second brace. Consequently extra care must be taken to prevent damage to the instrument." For a full discussion of the research conducted by Schilke behind the tuning-bell trumpet design, see Colin Bloch's article
Lightweight copper bells. As an option on most of their horns, Schilke makes available what they labeled as a "beryllium bronze" bell which were originally made by Kiefer in Elkhart, Indiana, and are now made by Anderson Plating. While these may have had trace elements of beryllium at one time, but because of the toxicity of beryllium, for more than 15 years, according to a former employee, the bells have been made of pure copper, fabricated electrolytically, i.e., the same way that silver plating is applied. This means that these bells are made without seams. They are indicated with a small "B" stamped into the ferrule on the bell tail closest to the first valve casing. The beryllium bell has been the standard bell on the Schilke P5-4 since the early 80s. The name 'beryllium bronze" has continued in use, even though it is inaccurate, because the company did not wish to endure the confusion created by a change in terminology.
These bells are very light weight, almost unbelievably so, and as the Schilke brochure states, "project very well with more of the 'higher overtones' present....at all dynamic levels." Research into the projection of comparable brass and beryllium bells by Schilke found that over a given distance a drop in sound level of 5% was recorded for the beryllium bells, compared to 12% for a brass bell.
In addition they improve the already quick response of Schilke trumpets. These bells may not be for everyone, but playing a tuning bell Schilke with the beryllium bell is something that everyone should try if presented with the opportunity. It is also instructive to remove the bell and hold it in your hand. Its lack of heft is astonishing.
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