Trombone Consultant David Holt recently visited the Edwards Factory in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

It was 15:15 when British Airways Flight 298 touched down at Chicago O'Hare after an 8-hour flight from London Heathrow. Christan Griego met me in baggage claim and we travelled northwest to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, the home of the Edwards Instrument Co.

Christan and David working in the Pro Stop

I was in the US by invitation of Christan Griego and the Edwards instrument Co. to look at developments and learn more about the manufacturing processes of the instruments. Whilst at the factory I was also going to take a closer look at the personal service they offer customers that visit the Edwards Pro Stop.

After a good night's sleep, day one started off with a comprehensive tour of the factory. We looked at the numerous departments and followed the step-by-step process of manufacturing an Edwards Instrument. From sheets of metal and tubes of brass and nickel, Edwards Trumpets and Trombones are handcrafted and machined by talented engineers. After many hours of care and attention to detail, bells, trombone slides and valve sets are ready to be taken to the Pro Stop or shipped directly to customers.

Day two was spent with Edwards' Production Coordinator Ron Knaflic. We delved into slide cleaning and reconditioning - a service that Edwards UK will be introducing in the near future. Reconditioning slides is made up of many steps. First, residues are removed with a thorough cleaning. Next, the inside of the outer slide is re-polished using a number of different products. Finally, a thin layer of lubricant is applied and the slide is sprayed with distilled water. The final result is a slide with no "catches" and a very consistent motion.

On day three Christan and I discussed the various types of custom work offered to customers who visit the Pro Stop. I spent much of the morning making and trying custom leadpipes, exploring alternative bell options for the UK market, testing new lubricants designed by Ron, and making minor adjustments to the instruments in general. The afternoon was spent fitting a customer with a new trombone. This gave me the opportunity to turn an already-great Edwards T350 into the perfect instrument for the customer by making him his own custom leadpipe.

Day four was once again spent in the factory. This time, special attention was paid to bell production, slide alignment and polishing, trumpet valve manufacturing, and trombone axial flow valve manufacturing. In order to produce a consistent product, twins Matt and Andy are the only two employees that work on the trombone valves. These brothers have been setting up valves for many years and it is their expertise and commitment to the product that gives such great results.

Although short, my visit to Elkhorn gave me an insight into the new developments taking place at the Edwards instrument Co. As a result, Edwards UK customers will receive an even more personal fitting service in the future.