Our story began with the late Ron K. Collier.
Mr. Collier spent his life building rare and specialized instruments. As a scholar of early music, was one of the few instrument makers in the world to build instruments to the specifications of the 17th Century. The instruments, always made by hand through individual orders, were used by musicians in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and by music professionals and universities with early music programs throughout the world.
After leaving the U.S. Army, Mr. Collier worked as a record-keeper for the Illinois Central Railroad, and later began repairing and building modern trumpets at the Schilke Instrument Co. in Chicago. He soon branched out on his own, building period instruments and continuing instrument repairs at a shop in Naperville. In 1987, Mr. Collier moved to Chicago, where he repaired brass instruments for the Quinlan & Fabish Music Co. as well as built music instruments in his home.
Before his passing in 1999, Ron passed on his knowledge to David Maller of Chicago, IL. Now operating as Maller Brass, David continues the work that Mr. Collier passed on to provide some of the world’s finest hand-crafted brass instruments.
David Maller, Owner
David Maller started out manufacturing natural trumpets and sackbuts after apprenticing with the late Ronald K. Collier for about eight years. It wasn’t long before David started making other historical and modern trumpets, cornets, sackbuts, and trombones.
David has spent most of his life dedicated to studying both modern and historical manufacturing techniques. At Triton College, he studied machine tool technology under professors Robert Bossert and Albert Check. David studied handmade bicycle frame manufacturing under Doug Fattic in Niles, Michigan. In 2000, David also participated in the Bob Barclay workshop in Bloomington, Indiana where students crafted handmade natural trumpets in the same manner taught to David by Ron Collier.
David also taught Music History and private lessons in the Chicago Public Schools and privately for many years. He was also a finalist in the Historic Division of the National Trumpet Competition and the sponsor for their Large Collegiate Ensemble Division for many years.
As an ensemblist, David has started, managed, and/or directed several instrumental and vocal groups of various kinds throughout his career. Such ensembles include drum and bugle corps, orchestras, concert bands, choirs, among others. David currently works as a freelance trumpet player in the Chicago area and in Central Pennsylvania where he currently resides.
