Mellophones

Regent instruments were made by Ohio Band Instrument Co., a subsidiary of F.A. Reynolds, using the same factory machines and craftsmen as the parent company.

The Contempora line launched in 1949 with new trumpet and bass trombone models, followed by cornet and tenor trombone. A year later, most original "F.A. Reynolds" instruments had been rebranded on paper as "Contempora" instruments, including the Alto Horns, though they were still referred to as "Reynolds" instruments throughout the 1950s. It is undetermined if the "Contempora" name was engraved prior to 1952, so many of these instruments may look the same as the F.A. Reynolds models.

By 1949, the Reynolds Mellophone had been upgraded with the addition of a rotary valve that enabled the player to switch to E♭ tuning, rather than have to switch tuning crooks on the horn.

Mellophones made from 1952-1960 should have "Contempora" and "Made by Roth-Reynolds" engraved on the bell.

Sometime after Richards Music purchased Reynolds in 1961, the product catalog was reorganized. Old model numbers were replaced with a new scheme that incorporated an abbreviation for the type of instrument, e.g. "ML" for Mellophone, and a hierarchal numbering system that reflected the grade of instrument, e.g. "01" for top-level artist instruments, "56" for student horns. To the best of knowledge, the instrument specifications did not change, just the model numbers. The new numbering system was used for the rest of the company's history.

After CMI purchased the assets to Reynolds, background and low brass instruments were produced at the Reynolds factory in Abilene, Texas. There were slight adjustments to the model specifications compared to the Cleveland instruments.

In 1970, Reynolds merged all production lines with Olds in Fullerton and sold the Abilene plant to Conn. In most cases, a horn would come off the California production line and become either a Reynolds- or Olds-branded instrument based on detailing and finish. Reynolds instruments made in this last decade are engraved "Made in USA".

Reynolds/Olds introduced the Marching Mellophone, ML-13, in 1970, replacing the Straight Bell Mellophone, ML-12, which had served the same use in the catalog. The traditional Mellophone, ML-11, was dropped by the end of 1974.