E. K. Blessing Company
Elkhart, Indiana
Super Artist Trumpet
#52890 (1950) w/#55872 valves (1951)

Model: Super Artist
Key: Bb/A
Length: 19.5"
Bell: 4.63 "
Bore: 0.468"
Weight: 38.95 oz
Finish: raw brass & nickel silver

Original cost c.1950 = $145 [$1,900 in 2024]

I bought this bargain Blessing Super Artist trumpet figuring that I could at least use it for parts if it was unrestorable. The serial number 52890 dated it to 1950. What a mess! It makes you wonder what happened to it.

After taking it all apart, I found that the first valve was too damaged and the bell connection to the first valve too rotten to rescue. Many inner slides were so corroded that it took a lot of work to separate them.

Since all three Blessing trumpet models share the same valves, I found a Standard model with serial #55872 from 1951 to use as a donor horn. This one was in very nice condition, yet had little value due to the lower-optioned model. In comparing this to the Super Artist version, it seems that the three models Blessing offered at this time were just variations of trim options.

This catalog image of the Super Artist from the 1940s shows the third slide ring on the bottom, which is typical of the earliest versions when introduced in the 1930s.

The third slide finger ring on the top came out around 1950 when mine was made.

Here is the Standard model in comparison from the same catalog.

Here it is all ready to go back together again. Lots of hours of work ahead!

All back together and playing great! The silver top valve casings go well with the nickel silver tubing.

The bell photo shows the damage someone did by sanding the old finish off. If I polished all the scratches out, there may not be much of the engraving left, so for now it's staying like this.