Earl Strickler mouthpiece

[CharlieB]

The title says it all.
I somehow wound up with a mouthpiece stamped "Earl Strickler Los Angeles California."
No other markings on it.
I'd like to learn more about it.

[JohnL]

http://www.itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/city_ ... thers.html
http://www.itsabear.com/horns/Strickler/Strickler.html

That's most of what I know about Earl Strickler. I don't get to play my Strickler much, but it's a great instrument.

[Doug Elliott]

I have a Strickler trombone but I didn't know he made a mouthpiece.

[JohnL]

...I didn't know he made a mouthpiece.

Neither did I. Mouhpiece-making is a significantly different skill set than regular brass instrument repair. Makes me wonder if maybe someone made them for him (I have a suspect in mind). Can you post some pics?

[CharlieB]

Well, with some generous help, the story is coming together.
Earl Strickler was building trombones in the years between World War One and Word WarTwo, sometimes alongside Earl Williams. Compared to today, trombones were typically smaller then. Strickler's trombones were dual bore, 0.485" / 0.495".
http://itsabear.com/horns/Strickler/Strickler.html

The Strickler mouthpiece that I have is also small; Rim = 0.945", bore = 0.225". The cup is very bowl shaped and shallower than a Bach 17C. It is a very heavy mouthpiece. I have only played the mouthpiece in a .500" bore trombone. The mouthpiece is too small for that horn, but it plays very well. I can see how it was a good match for the small bore Strickler horn playing 1930's music.

[JohnL]

The Strickler mouthpiece that I have is also small; Rim = 0.945", bore = 0.225". The cup is very bowl shaped and shallower than a Bach 17C. It is a very heavy mouthpiece.

Can you post a pic or two?

If they were made by someone else, my best guesses would be either Carroll Purviance or Roe Plimpton.

[CharlieB]

PM sent to JohnL

[CharlieB]

Earl Strickler mouthpiece

IMG_1152(5).jpg

Not gold plated....... camera color distortion.
Very good silver plating.
Apparent plating damage is a reflection of the photographer.

[JohnL]

The general shape is kinda Purviance-ish; definitely not like the few Roe Plimpton mouthpieces I've seen. Maybe Earl made his own mouthpieces and Purviance was influenced by them? Purviance did work for/with Earl at some point.

[CharlieB]

Thanks, John.
Today I Google-searched everything I could find about Roe Plimpton and Purviance and I came up dry.
Looks like we struck out.
Appreciate your input.
Back on the shelf it goes.