Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
HuffPuffTuba
bugler
bugler
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:44 pm
Location: East Tennessee

Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

Post by HuffPuffTuba »

I currently own an older Miraphone tuba that I can't quite identify. It's a 5 valve Miraphone (spelled Mirafone on the tuba itself) Tuba that plays in the key of CC if you hold down the 5th thumb valve. Without the 5th valve depressed it plays in the key of Ab.

It also has three of engravings on it that I have found so far

Two of them says "R. Lockwood", with one being on the bottom strap hook and the other being on the bottom of the 2nd valve tuning slide.

The third engraving saids "CDL" and under it it reads "EQ329878".

The serial # is 10384.

Pictures:
http://imgur.com/pNQlyNH
http://imgur.com/QgUaQoP
http://imgur.com/2g6lBBF
http://imgur.com/coh03iV
http://imgur.com/uHsf1HO
Last edited by HuffPuffTuba on Sat Nov 14, 2015 12:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
HuffPuffTuba
bugler
bugler
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:44 pm
Location: East Tennessee

Re: Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

Post by HuffPuffTuba »

Images work now.
User avatar
bisontuba
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4320
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
Location: Bottom of Lake Erie

Re: Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

Post by bisontuba »

186 5 valve CC Mirafone c. 1976 I believe....
HuffPuffTuba
bugler
bugler
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:44 pm
Location: East Tennessee

Re: Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

Post by HuffPuffTuba »

How would I go about getting the 5th valve fixed?
User avatar
Dan Schultz
TubaTinker
TubaTinker
Posts: 10427
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Newburgh, Indiana
Contact:

Re: Need help identifying Mirafone (Miraphone) Model

Post by Dan Schultz »

HuffPuffTuba wrote:How would I go about getting the 5th valve fixed?
The thumb paddle for your 5th rotor doesn't look right. To fix the rotor rotation might be as easy to fix as flipping the paddle over so the spring is reversed.

As far as the model number goes... it's probably a 186 but if the bell doesn't measure 16 1/2" in diameter or a bit larger... it might be a 185 (15 1/2" bell) or a 184 (14 1/2" bell).

Emailing the serial number to Eva at Miraphone will get you a good answer regarding the key. The serial number is at the bottom of the triangle on the bell. The other numbers you mentioned are just personal ID numbers and don't pertain to the model.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
Post Reply