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About the trumpet
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The modern trumpet evolved over time from instruments made from the hollowed-out horns of animals and hollow tree limbs. Instruments such as the shofar are ancestors of today's trumpet, which is one of the loudest and brightest-sounding instruments. Trumpets, popular in bands, orchestras, and as solo instruments, are made up of several yards of tubing and three pistons or valves that allow the player to play a wide range of pitches. Although a very few instruments, such as those made by Schilke, are still made by hand, most trumpets are manufactured in mass. The largest producer of student trumpets is China, where trumpets are made for companies like Yamaha and Bach.
The first step--making a brass tube
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A mixture of yellow, gold, or silver brass is wrapped around a dowel to shape it into a tube and coated with oil or an oil-based lubricant. The tube is pushed through a circular template that forms in into the correct shape and size for the body of a trumpet.
Molding the body
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The tube is superheated to nearly 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in order to soften it and make it bendable. Manufacturers then bend the tube, using one of several methods. Some manufacturers pour a moldable material into the tube, let it cool slightly, and then bend it with tools. The moldable material inside the tube keeps it from breaking or cracking as force is applied to bend it. Other manufacturers use a method in which the tube is locked into a circular wrench and water is forced through the tube at a very high pressure. Still other manufacturers push lubricated ball bearings through the tube to shape it. The ball bearings have much the same function as the moldable material in the first method.
Making the bell
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Shaping the bell
The bell, or flared end, of the trumpet is made in a manner somewhat different from the body. A thin sheet of brass is cut to fit a template. A tool called a mandrel is used to roll the edges and body of the bell into a standard shape, and then the bell is soldered onto the body of the trumpet.
Making the slides and valves
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Trumpet valves
Like the main tube, smaller tubes are softened and bent to form the valves and slides of the trumpet. Once cut, shaped, and cooled, they are attached to the body by soldering. Holes for the valve casings are drilled by computer-driven precision drills. The keys themselves are made by pouring hot metal into a mold and them topping them with mother-of-pearl or plastic tops.
The finishing touches
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The trumpet is assembled and lacquered or electroplated. While many professional players cite the "warmness" of lacquered instruments, students often appreciate the look of electroplated silver instruments. The new trumpets are played to ensure quality of sound, and are packaged for sale.
eHow Article: How a Trumpet Is Made
