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Preserving the history of  F·A·Reynolds and the "Band Instruments of Distinction"

Photo courtesy of eBay member blckthrn

Instruments

From beginning students and community band members to professional artists and symphony musicians, F.A. Reynolds offered a full catalog of brass instruments with distinctive features, exacting quality and the highest value.

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Serial Numbers

How old is your horn?

Find the unique serial number on your Reynolds, Roth or Regent instrument and check out the serial number tables to get an idea of when it was made.

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Company History

Year-by-year narratives of F.A. Reynolds Co. and Ohio Band Instrument Co. activities and significant events for 50 years, from 1929 to 1979.

Biographical sketch of Foster A. Reynolds.

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The Archives

Browse catalogs, price lists, artist brochures, instrument pamphlets, print ads and memorabilia from over 40+ years of F.A. Reynolds marketing and advertising.

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Recent site updates

July 2025

I've obtained an original June 1965 price list pamphlet, providing information on Reynolds instruments at the beginning of their operations in Texas. This is actually a mini catalog, with model descriptions and illustrations. The pamphlet retains the RMC order of student-to-professional models, which would be reversed in the 1966 catalog.

I've also been able to get an original 1968 price list pamphlet and have updated the previous images generously provided by hnwhite.com.

December 2024

A copy of an early F.A. Reynolds catalog has been added to the site through the generosity of Jonathan Quine.

While the printed date is March 1949, the design and content of the catalog appear to be from a few years earlier, making it the earliest Reynolds catalog collected so far. Be sure to check out this sample from the 1940's!

July 2024

New research has come to my attention around the 1961-64 time period when RMC owned Reynolds. As was known, manufacturing of the Reynolds/RMC Medalist instruments was outsourced, almost certainly at the Blessing plant in Elkhart, Indiana. It now appears likely that the serial numbers on Reynolds/RMC Medalist instruments were also based on Blessing or Indiana Band Instrument sequences. As such, I've removed the relevant Medalist notes from the serial number tables until I can confirm details and present a more accurate timeline.

Popular Instruments

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reynolds
cornets

Large- and medium-bore professional cornets with “underslung” wrap style. Brass or richly engraved sterling silver bells.

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Contempora TENOR TROMBONES

Small- and medium-bore tenor trombones with bronze alloy bell. F-attachment available.

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French HORNS

B♭/F double French horns—Pottag and Chambers Models; single horns in F or B♭; brass or solid nickel silver.

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Contempora
cornets

Medium- and large-bore cornets with bronze alloy bells, “underslung” wrap style and optional first valve triggers.

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contempora Bass trombones

Reynolds and Contempora bass trombones. Single- and double-valve bass trombones with bronze alloy bells.

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Reynolds
Trumpets

Reynolds’ original line of professional trumpets. Medium-bore models with brass or sterling silver bells.

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Contempora trumpets

Artist-level trumpets with bronze alloy bells and optional first valve triggers. Medium- and large-bore B♭ and C models.

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reynolds
Trombones

Reynolds’ original line of professional tenor trombones. Medium-bore models with brass or sterling silver bells.

Learn more
reynolds
cornets

Large- and medium-bore professional cornets with “underslung” wrap style. Brass or richly engraved sterling silver bells.

Learn more
Contempora TENOR TROMBONES

Small- and medium-bore tenor trombones with bronze alloy bell. F-attachment available.

Learn more
Contempora
French HORNS

B♭/F double French horns—Pottag and Chambers Models; single horns in F or B♭; brass or solid nickel silver.

Learn more
Contempora
cornets

Medium- and large-bore cornets with bronze alloy bells, “underslung” wrap style and optional first valve triggers.

Learn more
contempora Bass trombones

Reynolds and Contempora bass trombones. Single- and double-valve bass trombones with bronze alloy bells.

Learn more
Reynolds
Trumpets

Reynolds’ original line of professional trumpets. Medium-bore models with brass or sterling silver bells.

Learn more
Contempora trumpets

Artist-level trumpets with bronze alloy bells and optional first valve triggers. Medium- and large-bore B♭ and C models.

Learn more
reynolds
Trombones

Reynolds’ original line of professional tenor trombones. Medium-bore models with brass or sterling silver bells.

Learn more
reynolds
cornets

Large- and medium-bore professional cornets with “underslung” wrap style. Brass or richly engraved sterling silver bells.

Learn more
Contempora TENOR TROMBONES

Small- and medium-bore tenor trombones with bronze alloy bell. F-attachment available.

Learn more
Contempora
French HORNS

B♭/F double French horns—Pottag and Chambers Models; single horns in F or B♭; brass or solid nickel silver.

Learn more
Contempora
cornets

Medium- and large-bore cornets with bronze alloy bells, “underslung” wrap style and optional first valve triggers.

Learn more
Did you know?

If you have a Contempora instrument with this style of "Reynolds" engraving across the bell, the style of the "E" is copied from Foster A. Reynolds' own signature:

The purpose of this website is to preserve the history of the F. A. Reynolds Company and its brass instruments.
Contempora Corner and contemporacorner.com are not related or associated in any way to the former or current F.A. Reynolds Company.

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