Old French contrabass tuba somewhat like the British ones

[imperialbari]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190680541856

This instrument hardly is in a state of commercial interest to any TubeNetter, so I dare linking to it here in the real tuba forum as a sample of tuba history.

My take is that it is a BBb tuba. A pitch that I only have seen in military contexts in France (aside from amateurs).

The ballbuster and the long branches are shared with British designs. And it is not one of the French Bessons.

Klaus