Miraphone 185, can this be found:

[swillafew]

I would like to find a Miraphone 185 in CC with 5 valves, the 5th being the flat whole step, and if the 5th was left hand, so much the better. Is there such a beast?

[Dan Schultz]

You can buy one new if you like...

http://miraphone.de/en/en_modeldetails. ... =1&lang=en

[Dylan King]

http://hornguys.com/tubaccmir185.php

The 185 is a great horn. My first CC tuba was a 185 with the left hand 5th valve, which enabled me to have two thumb jiggers, one for the first valve slide and one for the fifth.

I reckon the new horns have better intonation. They also have the gold brass lead-pipe. I had to replace the one on my 185 after it rotted through.

I think I remember that Tommy Johnson said he played JAWS on a 185-—on the first take with no warm-up, while running late to the session after teaching Jr. High band all day.

[Dan Schultz]

http://hornguys.com/tubaccmir185.php

......

That's interesting what The Hornguys say about the 185 regarding the valve sections being the same as the 186. That's pretty difficult to swallow since Miraphone says the 185 bore is .740" while the 186 bore is .772".

Of interest is that Miraphone indicates that the bell diameter of the new 185 is about 16.5". The 185 I just shipped had a bell about 15.5".

[swillafew]

I was hoping somebody near me would have one I could try. Way back when, they were pretty common.