The Salvation Army Musical Instruments Department

Won a gold medal! A well-deserved honour. Salvationists the world over, and Bandsmen in particular, will welcome the announcement that our exhibit of plated “Class A” instruments has been awarded a god medal at the Christchurch (New Zealand) exhibition. The award is particularly gratifying from the fact that this was a “competitive” International Exhibition, and that musical instrument makers from America, Canada, and the Continent, as well as the leading English firms, were also showing of their best. Again, this success is a fitting culmination to those years of toil, expense, and endeavour to turn out from The Army’s Musical Instrument Department the very best that can be produced. This instruments dispatched were as follows: One bass drum, one side-drum, six cornets, one Eb trumpet, two Bb trumpets, two flugel horns (our own model), three tenor horns, four baritones, two 3-valve euphoniums, two 4-valve euphoniums, one alto trombone, three Bb trombones, one G trombone, one Eb bass trombone, one BBb trombone, two 3-valve Eb bombardons, one 4-valve Eb bombardon, two medium basses, one monster bass, and a pair of cymbals. (The set of trombones were fitted with our patent water key and locking device, and included the patent Eb bass trombone.) Seen by our representatives,

Colonel Simpson explained how the instruments came to be sent for exhibit. Some time ago the Australian Headquarters intimated to him that an International Exhibition was to he held, and was asked that a set of instruments might be sent. The suggestion was at once adopted, with the above gratifying result. The Colonel modestly assured is that the success was by no means a departmental one, nor could it be considered from a personal standpoint, it was credit to which the whole Army was entitles. At the same time it should be mentioned that Brigadier Grinsted, Manager of the Musical Instrument Department, has worked very hard to bring this branch of The Army’s trading operations to a position of efficiency. He, with Colonel Simpson, are certainly to be congratulated upon the results. This direction has been achieved not only by very careful management, but by a development which has been accompanied by the adaptation of the latest machinery and the employment of the most skilful workmen. The output of instruments during the past twelve months has beaten any previous records.
The fact, too, will be a source of gratification to all the Bands in this country and in many other lands who use “Our Own” instruments. (The Bandsman and Songster, June 8, 1907)