"The miracle of Heckel's breath, now within your grasp."
The Heckel model, brought to life in the modern era by its final inheritor, Bernd C. Meyer.
[Overview]
Bernt C. Meyer C-Shift Rotary Trumpet, Heckel Model. 126mm gold brass bell with 40mm nickel trim. Drum-type rotary mechanism. 11.15mm bore (measured). Includes spring-loaded trigger for 3rd rotary shift. Rose brass construction (no lacquer) except for nickel reinforcement tubes.Instrument weight: 972 grams. Manufactured circa 1997. No accessories included. This is a sale of the instrument body only.
[Condition]
No lacquer finish shows scattered discoloration and water spots, but no noticeable red rust or corrosion. Otherwise, only minor dents and faint scratches are present. All pipes adjusted and serviced.
[ Features]
Bernd C. Meyer, the legitimate successor to the historic workshop of F.A. Heckell, inherited all tools and documentation from his predecessor, Arno Windisch, in 1996. This instrument, crafted by Meyer himself, is truly a Heckell that lives on today.With Mr. Windisch's passing in 2010 and Mr. Meyer himself now retired from active production, no new instruments directly inheriting Heckels' philosophy from these craftsmen will ever be made.
The Heckels crafted by Meyer fall into two main categories. First, the "Heckel Model," a faithful reproduction of the classic Heckels of yesteryear. Every detail—the overall layout of the instrument, the shape of the mouthpipe and bell, the small valve bore, the S-shaped brace—is true to Heckels. Furthermore, he produced two specifications: one with the original drum-type rotary valves and one with standard rotary valves.
Second, the fully restored F.A. Heckel Model, crafted using original parts. This features a drum-type rotary with a Federschwanna (spring adjustment mechanism fitted to the rotary drum), a two-tone drum (copper and nickel silver), and a 40mm-wide bell rim bearing the large stamp 'F.A.Heckel gem.' (with the smaller inscription ' ' Berndt C. Meyer Dresden' below). However, production of this complete reproduction model ended early due to the depletion of our stock of original Heckel parts.
This newly arrived piece features the bell and two-tone drum rotary likely intended for the complete reproduction model, but lacks the Fader Schwanna. Its bore is 11.15mm, slightly larger than the complete reproduction model's 10.8mm, closer to the dimensions of the Windisch model Mr. Meyer was simultaneously developing. Overall, it can be considered a Heckel model with a very slight bore increase.
Light and responsive, with stable handling and a form even more beautiful than the original. It possesses the "traditional Viennese sound" with its softness and deep shading, yet remains a piece that thrives on the modern stage. A masterpiece capable of resonating Heckel's spirit on contemporary stages.
