Tell me about my new (old) King sousa

[Mike Finn]

So what have I got here?

BBb (low pitch)
20" bell
bore @ 0.710
sn 37xxx
H. N. White Co. Cleveland
Appears to be bright silver originally.

Really long main slide looks like it would be easy enough to convert to modern pitch. Would the valve slides need to be shortened too? The ones that move all have marks on them to indicate (I assume) low pitch.

Is there a model number associated with this tuba? Did they make very many of them? If anyone has old catalog scans, I'd love to see the original literature on this.

Any info (anectdotal or otherwise) will be appreciated!

[Dan Schultz]

Built around 1939.... I don't find any mention of either a .710" bore or a 20" bell on a sousaphone. Nice looking horn!

[Mike Finn]

Here are a few more pics: in the one with the bells, you can see the angle is the same on both 20" and 26" (both King) bells, and if you were to put the little one on a tuba it would be flat across the front, not tilted like most recording basses I've seen. After speaking with Lee Stofer, I've learned that some companies offered any size bell with any tuba (by special order.) I do believe this may be the original bell after all.

King bells 1.jpg

Lot's of room to trim on that main slide, possibly a candidate for CC conversion?

main slide.jpg

I haven't decided what to do with this one, but I'll have it with me at TUSAB-TEC next January.

valve nest close 1.jpg