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I've heard the Eb alto horn (Eb tenor?) referred to semi-affectionately as the "Blatweasel" on a couple of occasions. What is the source of this name? Who uses this name?

Also, are there nicknames for the other brass band instruments (other than "Giant Golden Commode" and "Poot-O-Phone" )?

This ought to be an 'interesting' thread!

GC wrote:What is the source of this name?

I think it is descriptive of the parts they are often given to play.

I have heard Trombones called "Spit Pumps"

I have had people in my own band refer to the tuba as
a "Sousaphone", no wonder our director has admonished the band
saying "This isn't marching band!"

In High School our 4 person tuba section [5 with the barisax thrown in] was called the "Boogins" by our band director, because there was a horror movie out with a creature called a boogin that dragged people down into the nether regions, well, our main fault was dragging the tempo, nuff said.
We were so proud of the name
we had shirts made with The "Boogins" on the front and our name and year on the back.

"Blatweasel" is onomatopoeic in nature, if you've ever sat close to an alto (tenor) horn!

I enjoy "Slushpump" and "Push-me-pull-you" for the trombone!!

According to the CONTRABASS-LIST, "blatweasels" were considered saxes in KC, as referenced by the following rule posted in a bandroom:

"Blatweasels (saxophones) should never be taken from the bandroom. Practice is not needed on this instrument."

I've heard the alto horn referred to as the "peck horn" and "snitweasel", but never "blatweasel".
-Eric

I play Eb tuba or fart horn. My tuba is not the blat weasel. I am the blat weasel.

I can only contribute German expressions, of course, but here goes:

French Horn: "Glücksspirale" ("Spiral of fortune", name of German lottery), "Rollmopsposaune" (Rollmops: rolled and stuffed fish filet soaked in vinegar, Posaune = trombone)

Baritone saxophone: "Güllepumpe" (Gülle: farmer´s expression for fluid taken out of stables and spread over fields, Güllepumpe being a mechanical device with hose dimensions similar to a barisax to carry out such task.

Tenor sax: "Staubsauger" (Vacuum cleaner)

Clarinet: "Wimmerpin" (Wimmern = to whimper, whine; Pin: small, pointed stick (NOT: needle-formed device to put drawings on walls), "Kohlstrunk" (what remains on the field when you harvest white cabbage: the cabbage´s trunk)

Tuba: Waschmaschine (about the same in English)