- - Please visit: Legacy Horn Experience - -
James asks:
I recently purchased an old 1960’s Contempora online. However, both the horn and the case look like they haven’t been touched since the 1960’s; even the valve oil, slide grease, and rag that came with it looked like they popped out of another era. Unfortunately, all aspects (horn, case) smelled like really bad business.
Should I attempt to clean it myself, or take it to a competent repairman to have it cleaned? If it’s ok to clean it myself, what supplies would I need to do so and how would I clean it?
Dave replies:
I recommend taking the horn to a repair technician for a cleaning. It should be thoroughly cleaned, adjusted, and inspected for damage from neglect. There are home cleaning products for your horn which can be used without disassembling the valves, but I recommend a visit to the shop for an old, neglected horn.
As for the case, you have two options, namely clean it yourself or buy a new one. New cases can be purchased for under US$200, and are very well made and protective.
But let’s assume for the moment that you are willing to try to clean the case yourself. Remove everything from the case, which is a good time to send the horn out for cleaning. Vacuum clean the case as thoroughly as possible. You might try a commercially available fabric cleaner at this stage, and use as directed. It’s a low cost solution, and is always a good place to start.
If the off-the-shelf product does not work, or doesn’t work completely, then you can try using hydrogen peroxide 3% solution, which is commonly available at grocery stores or pharmacies in opaque bottles. Also purchase two new, clean sponges small enough to fit into all the nooks and crannies of the case.
Using gloves, wet the sponge with hydrogen peroxide solution and sponge the solution gently into the fabric. Don’t soak it, but do try to get it damp. Let the fabric sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse the fabric with the second sponge and clean water, well-wrung, repeating the procedure at least three times. You want to rinse out the peroxide solution while sponging it up, leaving the fabric damp but as clean as possible.
For the outside of the case: If it’s fabric, blow it off with compressed air. If it’s a hard cover clean it with furniture polish or a multi-surface cleaner.
Final words: Always wear gloves, eye protection from splashes, and work in a well ventilated area. After dampening the fabric I recommend you leave the case out and open in full sunlight to dry completely before use.
