SNAKE OILS

Snake Oil was developed for the player who wants reliable, smooth valves but doesn't like oiling them.

As well as containing an anti-evaporating agent, Snake Oil also contains PTFE (the same material that coats your non-stick frying pan) which keeps your valves running even when they are dry.

Snake Oil is now being used in most of Britain’s finest orchestras, with players saying that they can play for weeks on end without oiling their valves. They have also noticed that Snake Oil gives a "silky feel" (Adrian Horn, Brass Forum) and that their instruments don't seize up when left unused. Visit www.Brass-Forum.co.uk for more user feedback.

Snake Oil also works particularly well on tubas, rotary and Thayer valved instruments: "It is the only oil that works on my Willson," says Marc Easener, Albion Brass and busy London freelancer. "It is the best oil I have found for my Thayers, and all my horn playing colleagues keep nicking it," says Paul Stoneham, Bass Trombone at TCM.

There are two recent additions to the Snake Oil range, all of which contain PTFE. Snake oil heavy, is a rotor and trigger oil which is designed for bearings on rotor valves and trumpet triggers. The other, is Snott, so named by the brass students at Trinity College, London due to it's stringy consistency (it is also non-toxic). This is a viscous oil suitable for lever linkages and short mobile slides, such as those found on Eb, D & piccolo trumpets.

Snake Oils can be mixed with most other petroleum based oils and are available from through the shop on this site or at Phil Parker Ltd, www.philparker.co.uk.

Local players in SURREY can purchase them from Chamberlains www.chamberlainmusic.com (Haslemere) Lloyd & Keyworth (Farnham) and Mole Music (Leatherhead) www.molevalleymusic.co.uk

In 2007, the Classic Snake Oil was re-mixed and is now available internationally, under the Denis Wick brand. It is now one of the most popular selling oils and sales are rising fast.

While Snake Oil Classic can still be purchased through the Will Spencer on-line shop, there is a limited supply and customers wishing to purchase the product, are urged to locate their local Denis Wick distributor.