Interesting tuba acquired

[arpthark]

Cool, Mark! Where do you find all of these unique horns? Is there a cool-old-tuba wholesale warehouse I'm not aware of?

[Timswisstuba]

If it is the horn I am thinking of this horn has already had a home in Buffalo before. It is a nice horn.

[bisontuba]

Tim-
Nope--Scotty's old Kaiser WAS OLD---but he had banged it up so much that the bell metal would bend if you sneezed. I think it was turn of the Century--19thC. That was traded off to a guy in California years ago....

BTW, the present Kaiser horn is now at the repairman's.....

Mark

[Rick Denney]

Oooooh! I'd love to compare this one side-by-side with my Hirsbrunner HBS-193. It's a bit smaller of bore (.807"), and it has a mouthpiece receiver that fits actual mouthpieces that can be purchased by mortals. But the comparison would still be interesting.

The taper takes a bit of a kink at the bell attachment ring, which I find interesting, too. A one-piece bell would have a mostly straight taper in that vicinity.

My recommendation: start your Breathing Gym exercises now.

Rick "recalling a picture in Bevan of George Wall playing a 164, the ultimate Wagnerian 'Kontrabasstuba'" Denney

[bisontuba]

Oooooh! I'd love to compare this one side-by-side with my Hirsbrunner HBS-193. It's a bit smaller of bore (.807"), and it has a mouthpiece receiver that fits actual mouthpieces that can be purchased by mortals. But the comparison would still be interesting.

The taper takes a bit of a kink at the bell attachment ring, which I find interesting, too. A one-piece bell would have a mostly straight taper in that vicinity.

My recommendation: start your Breathing Gym exercises now.

Rick "recalling a picture in Bevan of George Wall playing a 164, the ultimate Wagnerian 'Kontrabasstuba'" Denney

Rick-
How true....we are talking massive air for the beast, but what a sound

[bort]

I have NEVER seen a front facing bell for an Alex, either.

A detachable-bell 163 sold here a few years ago. Great looking tuba -- I like that the bell collar is right near the leadpipe, it kind of disguises it.

[Arthur]

Lovely

[Walter Webb]

I got this Alex 163 BBb about 5 years ago. It may be a slightly smaller (.815 bore ?) version of your Kaiser. It, too, has the ginormous Sousaphone bell. I'm having it cleaned and adjusted in a couple of weeks, as the rotors are getting a bit sluggish. Oiling the rotor shafts and dripping a bit of light oil down the pipes is not helping. Also, when I got it, the bare brass was a beautiful warm color. Not so much any more... viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42712&p=377496&hili ... on#p377496" target="_blank

[bisontuba]

I got this Alex 163 BBb about 5 years ago. It may be a slightly smaller (.815 bore ?) version of your Kaiser. It, too, has the ginormous Sousaphone bell. I'm having it cleaned and adjusted in a couple of weeks, as the rotors are getting a bit sluggish. Oiling the rotor shafts and dripping a bit of light oil down the pipes is not helping. Also, when I got it, the bare brass was a beautiful warm color. Not so much any more... viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42712&p=377496&hili ... on#p377496" target="_blank" target="_blank

Very nice! I assume your upright bell is 16.5"--what size is your bell front?
Mark

[Walter Webb]

Yes, 16.5" diameter upright. The bell forward is about 26".