The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
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- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Hi all - the J. W. Pepper company just completed a short documentary on the birth of the Sousaphone. It was great to be involved in this project, which relates to the research I did for my article in the current ITEA Journal, "Marching Through the Early History of the Sousaphone." It also features Steve Dillon, owner of Dillon Music, and Matt Walters, a.k.a. "The Tuba Whisperer"!
Here's the link: https://youtu.be/F5k5RG4EqK8
Enjoy!
Here's the link: https://youtu.be/F5k5RG4EqK8
Enjoy!
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
- bisontuba
- 6 valves
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Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Great Video--enjoyed it very much!!
Mark
Mark
- MrBasseyPants
- bugler
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- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
nicely done!
MrBasseyPants - jc
My three Kings: 2007 King 2341 | 1935 King Giant 1271 | 1925 King 1265 Jumbo (now with four valves)
...and a 1920s Columbia Tenor Sousaphone
WARNING: This tuba player has been known to get his groove on via bass guitar as well!
My three Kings: 2007 King 2341 | 1935 King Giant 1271 | 1925 King 1265 Jumbo (now with four valves)
...and a 1920s Columbia Tenor Sousaphone
WARNING: This tuba player has been known to get his groove on via bass guitar as well!
- DonShirer
- 4 valves
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Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Very informative, Dave, especially that the prototype was never played in concert. Now we have proof that the Sousaphone was not invented by Clifton Webb and Robert Wagner! Thanks.
Don Shirer
Westbrook, CT
Westbrook, CT
- opus37
- 5 valves
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- Location: Woodbury, MN
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
I watched your video with great interest. I thank you for your passion. I recently restored a Courtiere made Eb helicon from the same time period. The valve buttons, lack of a thumb ring and general tubing arrangement is the same as the horn you featured. The number on your bell was 8800. Mine has a very similar number on the bell (8831). Mine also has the same J.W. Pepper logo but includes imported by as part of it. This suggests to me that Pepper used the Courtiere design as a basis for this horn.
Brian
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
- windshieldbug
- Once got the "hand" as a cue
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Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
opus37 wrote:I watched your video with great interest. I thank you for your passion. I recently restored a Courtiere made Eb helicon from the same time period. The valve buttons, lack of a thumb ring and general tubing arrangement is the same as the horn you featured. The number on your bell was 8800. Mine has a very similar number on the bell (8831). Mine also has the same J.W. Pepper logo but includes imported by as part of it. This suggests to me that Pepper used the Courtiere design as a basis for this horn.
Pepper had Henry Distin set up brass manufacturing in Philadelphia and was already building helicons in-house. The Couturiere may well actually have been built in Philadelphia.
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
- Rick F
- 5 valves
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- Location: Lake Worth, FL
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Excellent video and great research. I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton mpc (Brandon Jones)
YEP-641S (on long-term loan to grandson)
DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank)
YEP-641S (on long-term loan to grandson)
DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank)
- opus37
- 5 valves
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- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:22 pm
- Location: Woodbury, MN
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
You maybe correct, however my helicon has engraved on the bell " F. Courtiere Paris imported by J.W.Pepper" above the number and the rest of the standard Pepper engraving.windshieldbug wrote:opus37 wrote:I watched your video with great interest. I thank you for your passion. I recently restored a Courtiere made Eb helicon from the same time period. The valve buttons, lack of a thumb ring and general tubing arrangement is the same as the horn you featured. The number on your bell was 8800. Mine has a very similar number on the bell (8831). Mine also has the same J.W. Pepper logo but includes imported by as part of it. This suggests to me that Pepper used the Courtiere design as a basis for this horn.
Pepper had Henry Distin set up brass manufacturing in Philadelphia and was already building helicons in-house. The Couturiere may well actually have been built in Philadelphia.
Brian
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
-
- 6 valves
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Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
24 Minutes.
A "short documentary"
Compared to Ken Burn's Civil War??
Yeah, OK.
I can't wait to see it when I get home!!
A "short documentary"
Compared to Ken Burn's Civil War??
Yeah, OK.
I can't wait to see it when I get home!!
I am committed to the advancement of civil rights, minus the Marxist intimidation and thuggery of BLM.
- Conn 2J CC
- bugler
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- Location: Illinois
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
My compliments - very interesting video.
Thanks for the post -
Thanks for the post -
Dave
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
-
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Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Great job!
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
- groovlow
- bugler
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- Location: Nashville TN
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Very nice production.
Congratulations to all involved.
I wonder how much low brass R & D Is documented for JW Pepper
like the Monster Eb s with the tiny bore? Earliest 18" or 20" bell?
Wow the advertisement gives the sousaphone an actual birthday
Thanks
Joe
Congratulations to all involved.
I wonder how much low brass R & D Is documented for JW Pepper
like the Monster Eb s with the tiny bore? Earliest 18" or 20" bell?
Wow the advertisement gives the sousaphone an actual birthday
Thanks
Joe
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
Thanks for the kind words, everyone.
Joe, after numerous moves over the years, the Pepper company has lost much of its historical archives. And what little remains is in dire need of being organized!
What I was able to collect and preserve digitally are many of the Pepper catalogues and journals. Digital copies can now be found at the National Music Museum at the Univ of South Dakota, Oberlin College, and (soon, I hope) the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Joe, after numerous moves over the years, the Pepper company has lost much of its historical archives. And what little remains is in dire need of being organized!
What I was able to collect and preserve digitally are many of the Pepper catalogues and journals. Digital copies can now be found at the National Music Museum at the Univ of South Dakota, Oberlin College, and (soon, I hope) the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
-
- 4 valves
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:48 pm
- Location: North Eastern U.S.
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
I'd like to echo the sentiment. Excellent documentary and all.
If you'll pardon the vernacular, this is all wicked cool.
Always looking for reasons to celebrate...
If you'll pardon the vernacular, this is all wicked cool.
I missed the advertisement (or couldn't read it) all i caught was the October 14th, 1895 as the date on a letter, though it would seem that is a "no later than" limitation, rather than the actual birthday, assuming i understand it?groovlow wrote: Wow the advertisement gives the sousaphone an actual birthday
Thanks
Joe
Always looking for reasons to celebrate...
Thanks for playing!
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
Re: The Birth of the Sousaphone - a short documentary
humBell - you are correct. What we have is a no-later-than date of October 14, 1895. But while the actual birth-DAY is still not known, the birth-YEAR is basically settled - 1895 - which is 2-3 years before Conn built his first Sousaphone (introduced in January 1898).
And hey, "wicked cool" works for me!
And hey, "wicked cool" works for me!
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand