For all of recorded history musical instruments have been a source of fascination and curiosity for man. Through a major portion of this time one instrument, the trombone, has evolved with a unique design, character, and history. The earliest trombones, called sackbuts, originally had a sliding mechanism located near the mouthpiece. In the sixteenth century this was improved by the addition of the "U-turn" which facilitated holding and playing. This construction innovation was the last major change in trombone design; the trombone of 1600 was essentially the same as the trombone of today.