And where is an old Alex 7v F?

[Ken Herrick]

Seeing the earlier post regarding an old Alex BBb, I got wondering where another old Alex might be.
During the Reiner years with the CSO Jake used an Alex F for a time. It is pictured in Song and wind prior to being converted to 7 valves by Carl Geyer. Jake wanted to have something where the CC fingerings he was most comfortable with would be available while using a small instrument as opposed to the York as Reiner wanted for a time. A new lead pipe with American size receiver was added along with "normal" CC 3 valve for the left hand making it a double F/CC tuba. (Holding R4 giving a CC with 3v in the left.)

About 66 or 67 I had just purchased a nice, used 5v Alex F and took it down to a lesson. The CSO was going to be doing Pictures with Jake to do Bydlo. (I can't recall for sure whether it was to be recorded but think it was to be with concert then recording with Ozawa.) Anyway, Jake liked it and asked if I would do a swap for the 7v Alex which had a better low end where my 5v had a really nice top end. He convinced me the extra flexibility of having a double tuba would suit me.

It was not long after that work in Chicago became VERY scarce and I had to raise some bucks to pay stupid things like rent and food so I asked jake if I could borrow $150 which he did with the 7v Alex being held as collateral. The economic situation did not improve so I had to go down state and do other things to survive. Jake sold it before I had the $150 to "redeem" the loan. I'm not sure if it was Don Heeren or Ron Bishop who bought it, though seem to recall it was one of them, and totally lost track of where it went.

Anybody know of it??????

[Art Hovey]

Could that be Gary Buttery's Alex?

[Ken Herrick]

[quote="Art Hovey"]Could that be Gary Buttery's Alex?

Hard to tell - the layout looks right but if it is probably has been overhauled with the frosted silver redone. That wouldn't be too surprising as it would now be around 50-60 years old.

[Art Hovey]

Yes, Gary did have it overhauled.
Send me a PM if you'd like his email address.

[Ken Herrick]

Thanks, Art. Nice to see it is still in use and maybe between us we can put togther a bit of it's history for any who might be interested.

One particular CSO recording with it getting a nice part was the Stravinsky "Fairy's Kiss" with Jake doing the honours.

It would be interesting to be able to compare it with some of today's Fs. It was a nice horn to play.

I still have and have had a lot of use from the mp I had schilke make for me to use on it. A 7B Helleberg rim copied onto a Schilke 62 cup and blended with a standard American shank. I later turned the shank down to fit Boosey shanks for an Imp Eb I used while in Australian Army Band and opened up the throat and backbore. I formerly used it on my old King if I wanted something lighter and brighter. In latter years, after turning the shank down, i could still use it on US sze receivers by wrapping it with thin cork like a sax neck. I'm looking forward to possibly getting in touch with Gary.

Thanks,

Ken