Vintage Reynolds Contempora Model 40-L Bb Trumpet ca 1954

Contempora Trumpets

Introduced in 1949, the Contempora trumpet was Reynolds' flagship model until the company ceased operations in 1979. The Contempora inherited the basic design of Reynolds' original models and added new features like a bronze-alloy bell with nickel-silver tone ring, monel steel valve pistons, an optional first-valve slide "trigger" tuning mechanism and a larger bore size. 

There is an undeniable similarity in appearance to the older Olds Super trumpet with its bronze bell and tone ring. By 1948, Foster A. Reynolds had left his company and moved to Los Angeles to build a new plant for Olds. Whether the similar designs of the Contempora were coincidence, collaboration or competition is unknown. According to the trademark application filed with the U.S. Patent Office, the name “Contempora” and original stylized script were first used on May 5, 1949.

Trumpets have come and trumpets have gone, but every professional and amateur who has played this new Reynolds Large Bore Contempora says it is the last word in graceful appearance, responsiveness, big smooth tone, and sure, flawless performance. Has a new feature: trigger for the important first valve slide.

1949 F.A. Reynolds catalog

The "Kranz"

Contempora trumpets introduced a new feature to the Reynolds catalog: the bell tone ring, or Kranz. Made of nickel silver, tone rings were traditionally added to instruments with thin bell flares to help dampen the vibration of the bell and keep the sound from breaking up too early at higher volumes. The best-known American band instruments with tone rings were the Olds Super line, introduced in 1932.

Whether the Contempora tone ring was added to balance a thinner bronze alloy bell or as a marketing "feature" to compete with Olds (now led by Foster Reynolds) is unknown.