Balmoral trumpet to go under the hammer - 10/02/2010

A trumpet used to entertain guests during parties at Balmoral Castle in the 1940s and 1950s is to go on sale.

The instrument has been given a pre-sale estimate to the tune of £800 to £1200, and will be sold alongside documents and dance cards, the BBC reports.

The rare Hawkes and Son Bach trumpet, which is far longer than what most would consider a regular trumpet, is sure to generate a great deal of interest.

Philip Scott, head of the Bonhams musical instrument department, paid tribute to the lot's uniqueness, insisting that it was an item of real quality.

He said: "We rarely blow our trumpet here, but this varied and inclusive auction offers a remarkable opportunity for the local and international market."

The instrument used to belong to the leader of the Kincardine O'Neill Dance Band, which provided music at the Aberdeenshire castle while King George VI sat on the throne.

With only one trumpet available for purchase, the March 10th auction is likely to leave a few people brassed off.