Front Action Euphoniums?

[kingconn]

Looks like if you made the 4th valve a rotor, you could have a piston looking thing (ala some fiske rotors) for the right hand and a lever for the left. After having besson Eb tubas 981 and a 983 there are times when each has its advantages.

[Wyvern]

Rudolf Meinl does also have a version http://www.rudolf-meinl.de/uploads/media/bbariton.pdf

I do like the look of that! The great ergonomics of rotary front valves with left hand operated 4th.

I would rather like to try that layout on a tuba with the 4th & 5th valves left hand operated. I think might facilitate easier moving around in the low register, but that is probably just because I'm British and grew up with the 3+1 valve layout

[Tigerreydelaselva]

and... what about Lechner F-tubas? Could anybody tell me some information about them?

[Wyvern]

The other big reason is that the index or middle finger of the left hand tends to be faster and stronger than the right hand pinkie.

But does that not also apply to tubas?

As an Englishman I find working 4th piston valve with little finger difficult, but have no problems with rotary valves.

In German I note increasing use of compensated euphonium instead of traditional Germany oval kaiser baritone in concert bands