Koster Oboe Circa 1920 - HISTORIC COLLECTION

Koster Oboe, Circa 1920

This early 20th-century European oboe, crafted by the esteemed maker Koster, represents a fascinating piece of wind instrument history. Manufactured around 1920, it provides a unique glimpse into the design and craftsmanship of post-World War I Europe. Unfortunately, specific details like a serial number are absent, typical of period instruments where such identifiers were not consistently applied.

Design Features

The oboe is constructed from high-quality grenadilla wood, a material prized for its durability and traditional use in woodwind construction. Its key system reflects the transitional designs of the early 20th century as makers refined the instrument’s mechanical complexity. The craftsmanship shows decorated keywork, with nickel-silver keys that are indicative of the era and represent an artisan’s attentiveness to both function and form.

Historical Context

As the 20th century progressed, the Koster name was synonymous with quality and innovation in woodwind instruments. This oboe is indicative of the period's transition towards more intricate mechanisms and improved playability, influenced by both technological advancement and evolving musical demands. It serves as a testament to the wave of European musical instrument makers supplementing the rich tradition of woodwind fabrication with modern sensibilities.

Condition Report

This historic oboe exhibits the wear and patina typical of its century of existence, with some wood abrasion and metal oxidation on key fittings. These elements authentically contribute to its overall narrative. Please note, this oboe is offered strictly as a historical artifact, not guaranteed to be playable. It is an ideal acquisition for those invested in the preservation and study of musical history.

As this instrument is historically interesting, we have chosen to not do restoration work on it and leave that to the eventual owner. Instrument will need pad and keywork to be playable.

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We want you to be happy and satisfied with your purchase, and we offer an unconditional 30 day return policy. If you are unhappy with your item for any reason, just return it for a full refund or full credit towards an exchange. (Reeds and other consumables are non-returnable once opened.)

We warranty every item we sell to be free of mechanical defects. If you find an issue with your purchase, please contact us. We will either reimburse you to have any minor repairs completed by your local repair shop, or we will send you a label to cover all return postage charges so that we can either repair your instrument, exchange your instrument, or issue you a refund for your instrument. We stand behind our products, and we truly want you to be happy.

Please note that if you simply change your mind about the purchase of an item - if you find that it's just not the one for you - you are still entitled to a full refund. We do not routinely charge a restocking fee; however, you will be responsible for the expense involved in shipping the item back to us if you have not purchased free returns through Redo at checkout. (Redo is available for domestic sales in the US only - international customers will be responsible for return shipping). Upon receipt of your return, our technicians will go over the instrument to ensure everything is in the same condition in which it was sold. Damage to the instrument, missing accessories, or unauthorized alterations/repairs may affect your refund. Your refund will be processed within 5 business days of our receipt of your return.

If more than five returns are requested within a calendar year, a 20% restocking fee will be assessed for every return moving forward for that calendar year.

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