Hi Bob I too am using an instrument repair shop here in Montana. The shop is called "Flathead Woodwind and Brass" in Kalipsell - is that who you are using? The guy does a fantastic job. At first he wouldn't work on the horns due to their age and lack of experience. Now he looks forward to the next challenge that I bring him. He has worked mainly on all-brass horns but did an amazing job a a very large aluminum horn. The real problems started when I asked him to look at a hunting horn - just no way to work around the large curve. The best job he did was on an early North American era flared all brass horn that was ROUGH and crane bracket soldered in the wrong position. Now it is one of my favorite horns and is stunning in person.
Costs to clean up a horn (14" - 24" all brass, remove dents, polish) is approx. $60/horn. I have spent nearly $200 on more complex jobs. Regards, Scott PS. I think you work with my wife Diana in Helena on education issues - correct?
