Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

Earl Williams and John Wallace started making instruments in 1936 in LA. Williams had previously worked for Holton and Olds.

1915 Williams listed as an instrument Maker 4122 Belinda. ¹

Earl Williams began crafting trombones in the 1920s. In a joint effort with the bass trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Spike Wallace, they introduced the Williams and Wallace trombone. The Williams Wallace trombone featured in-the-slide tuning, a feature for which Earl Williams was granted a US patent.

Spike Wallace was the principal trombonist with the Los Angeles Symphony and later the bass trombonist with the LA Phil. The Symphony was LA's orchestra in the years before the Phil was founded. It was never very well funded, so when the Phil (backed by millionaire William Andrews Clark, Jr.) came along in 1919, it didn't take long for the Symphony to go out of business.

1929 Williams and Wallace listed as Intruments maker 432 S Main R 51. ¹

1936 Williams listed as a Trombone maker, and Wallace as musician. ¹

The Wallace trombone was introduced in 1939. The number of horns made per year was approx 50.

From approximately 1926 to 1940, Earl Williams built trombone to specifications defined by Spike Wallace a trombonist with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. ²

1942 Williams listed as instrument repairer. ¹

During WWII, Earl worked for the Department of Defense producing telescopic items and he also produced long distance (2 miles) arrow shafts. After WWII, Earl lived in Chicago and worked at Lyon and Healy in Chicago. And, there is some inconclusive evidence that he may have been working for Conn in 1946, (Conn was making stencils for Lyon and Healy at that time.)

After Williams died, the company was sold and moved to Donelson, TN. After moving to Donelson, the serial numbers started at 10,000.

Calicchio now owns the rights to the Williams brand name, and they say they are making Williams trombones to the original specifications.

The F Trigger mechanism was unusual in that it had gear teeth, which engaged with gears on the axle of the rotary valve to turn the valve.