About that historic Sousaphone up at Interlochen

[Dave Detwiler]

Hi all - and Happy New Year!

I've finally made an attempt to visually track the historic Conn Sousaphone that is in the Greenleaf collection up at Interlochen. It was built in 1905, and supposedly spent the first 24 years of its life in the Sousa Band. The visual evidence seems to support this, but who knows!

At the very least, the blog post includes some recently acquired photos of that horn (or one like it), and some of the greats who played it in Sousa's Band.

Here's the post, if you're interested: http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2020/01/ ... years.html

Enjoy!
Dave

[bisontuba]

The Taylor Music inst has a new home in the Buffalo area...

[Dave Detwiler]

The Taylor Music inst has a new home in the Buffalo area...

Thanks for the update. Is it on display somewhere, or in a private collection?

[bisontuba]

Private...

[Dave Detwiler]

Good morning, all!

Leo Gillis, who is the head of special collections and archives up at Interlochen, sent along another photo of the Interlochen Sousaphone that I have added to the post. But here it is for your viewing pleasure!

1957 Capt Kangaroo.jpg

While somebody dropped the ball on exactly how to attach the bell, and perhaps play the instrument properly, this historic horn showed up in a 1957 episode of Captain Kangaroo!

Enjoy!
Dave

[Charlie C Chowder]

I believe I watched that episode. I was a fan of the Captain.

C.C.C.

[tofu]

.

[sweaty]

In the same collection at Interlochen, there is a sousaphone with incredibly ornate engraving all over it. The bell was on a hook high up facing the wall so it was not noticeable. There is also a trombone, formerly owned by Arthur Pryor, that had engraving on every square inch of it, including the mouthpiece. I played them both in 2015.

The trombone had very clear high range and pedal notes, with a middling mid-range. I see how Pryor's solos were written to emphasize the strengths of that horn.

[Dave Detwiler]

In the same collection at Interlochen, there is a sousaphone with incredibly ornate engraving all over it. The bell was on a hook high up facing the wall so it was not noticeable.

Indeed! At some point, I hope to research that amazing horn in more detail. But I did get the chance to see it and post about it back in 2012. Here's that post: http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2012/12/ ... phone.html

[Dave Detwiler]

Love your blogs. Especially for those curious about history. I just want to add that Conn's first sousaphone you are seen below holding, seems to be much larger than Pepper's sousaphone.

It is indeed much larger that the original Sousaphone, built by Pepper. That horn has only three valves and weighs just a tad under 25 pounds. The Interlochen Sousaphone, with four valves, weighs approx. 33 pounds (the reported weight of a similar looking Conn Sousaphone used in Sousa's band in 1903).