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Author
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Topic: 333648754697: Neil Armstrong's trumpet
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hbw60
Member Posts: 77
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 07-09-2020 02:10 AM
   
This has to be one of the most baffling eBay auctions I've ever seen. It's a $1,000 trumpet that's listed as being the first one owned by Neil Armstrong. I'm unaware of Neil ever owning a trumpet, let alone many trumpets that would necessitate one being the "first."My only guess is that this eBay seller (who doesn't have any feedback) meant to list this as Louis Armstrong's first trumpet. But if true, that would be a priceless artifact worthy of the Smithsonian. So I can't imagine such a treasure being thrown onto eBay by a random seller, with a one-line description that even gets his name wrong. I don't even want to contact the seller. This is either an outright lie, a bizarre way to sell an important historical artifact, or perhaps even a joke. But it made me curious enough to ask — did Neil Armstrong ever own a trumpet?  |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4244
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-09-2020 04:10 AM
Looks to be in remarkably good condition too for an instrument with some apparent age. If contact were made with the seller it would give him/her an opportunity to educate everybody with pearls of wisdom and perhaps even provenance. One might say, an opportunity "to blow his own trumpet"! Sorry.  |
minipci
Member Posts: 379
From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 07-09-2020 05:56 AM
Quoting from the eBay page: This is Neil Armstrong’z First Trumpet. ...with a trendy possessive "z" rather than an "s".Obviously that makes me want to rush out and buy it quickly. There will undoubtedly be thousands wanting to get their hands on it. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1362
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-09-2020 10:06 AM
Only $4.70 for shipping if you are the high bidder.
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Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 1013
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 07-09-2020 12:57 PM
In his senior yearbook from Blume High School in Wapakoneta, Ohio he is listed as a 3-year member of the band. He was a transfer student having spent his freshman year at Upper Sandusky High. However, in a group photo of the band members he is seen holding a baritone horn which is a three valve brass instrument, but not a trumpet.Edited to add: If he began studying music by playing the trumpet or cornet in Middle School he likely didn't actually own the instrument. At that age everyone just used whatever the school had available. This was specially true at that time since we were in the middle of WWII. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4565
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2020 01:13 PM
He played baritone horn at Purdue as well. However many younger folks start off on trumpet before transitioning to other brass instruments. |
hbw60
Member Posts: 77
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 07-09-2020 02:50 PM
I'd heard about him playing baritone horn, and I agree, the trumpet is often a "starter instrument" in such cases. My little brother was the same way in school. He started with the trumpet, and quickly moved to the French horn. And that makes it seem feasible that a middle-school aged Neil owned a trumpet for some time. Also, if someone was trying to sell a trumpet by falsely associating it with a celebrity, Neil Armstrong would be such an odd choice. So there's just enough here to pique my interest, which is why I opened this thread.But if Neil did indeed own a trumpet, and this person really is selling it, one would think they'd take the time to give even the slightest backstory as to how they obtained it. "I was Neil's music teacher in middle school, and this was the trumpet he played," or something like that. It's a very strange listing. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 423
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 07-09-2020 06:31 PM
I'm always doubtful of claims like: "I saved Neil's trumpet..." because no one has any idea that the 14 year old you're looking at will be the first man on the moon 25 years later. That's quite some fortune-telling to pull off. |
JJG10101
Member Posts: 13
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Registered: Feb 2019
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posted 07-11-2020 05:39 PM
Having played a starter trumpet myself, I can attest that most instruments played by elementary/high school students have at least a few dings. Also, the picture doesn't indicate a mouthpiece, which usually travel with such instruments. Finally, the tuning slides are essentially closed, another curious thing. Looks like a recent vintage to this former trumpet player. |
Buel
Member Posts: 689
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-11-2020 07:07 PM
The fact that the seller has zero feedback is the number one danger sign in all this. Buyer (very much) beware! Rocket science, it is not. |
Buel
Member Posts: 689
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-12-2020 01:20 PM
Seller won’t respond to all three messages I’ve sent in the last 24 hours. Enough said. |
pbrowne
Member Posts: 14
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2020
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posted 07-14-2020 10:28 PM
This person has been reported to eBay and I have received advice from eBay customer service that they have investigated the activity. eBay cannot divulge under confidentiality conditions about any disciplinary action: I understand you are concern as you have suspected this member selling a fake item. Rest assured that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in our site.I have finished my investigation and I guarantee you that we have documented the details you’ve shared regarding the seller’s behavior and trading practice. Just be reminded that most of the actions we take are not visible to other members or evident immediately. The actions we may take against seller who don't follow eBay policies vary depending on the severity of the situation. They may include education and warnings to change seller behaviour if the actions look unintentional, and restrictions and suspensions to make sure seller who intend to cause harm can't do so. Privacy is a priority at eBay at all times so we're not able to share the details of the actions we took, in the same way the reported member will not know who filed the report. Even if you can't see what action was taken, this doesn't mean that we haven't taken any. Rest assured that this will have negative impact against their account and make sure that they won't do this again to the rest of our eBay community. I appreciate the opportunity to have helped you with this information and trust that it resolved your concern to your satisfaction. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4565
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-15-2020 12:04 AM
Reported on what basis? Is it not plausible that a new to eBay seller believes (for whatever reason) that he/she has a legitimate item? What specific information has come to your attention directly refuting the sellers position? Just because the claim is ambiguously worded doesn't in itself substantiate deceptive/fraudulent practice. In the absence of compelling information derived from the listing or other credible sources it seems premature to lodge a complaint against the seller. |
pbrowne
Member Posts: 14
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2020
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posted 07-15-2020 12:49 AM
Reported simply because I suspect it to be deceptive and/or fraudulent activity. I will leave it to eBay to investigate and decide whether it is or is not deceptive or fraudulent — that is their job as owners of the platform. The particular eBay account has been active since 2018.I do this as someone who has recently bought on eBay from a fraudulent seller in China who gave me a tracking number, then cancelled the shipping after receiving my payment. I also reported that seller, as did others, and eBay cancelled their account. I did get a full refund from eBay. If someone thinks activity is suspicious, then it should be reported to the relevant authority for investigation. |
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