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The tuba in the top of this picture is a King 1240. What is the King on the bottom? I've seen it called a 2341 but that's the number of the newer Kings with a fixed bell.

Hi Dan,

Yes the bottom horn appears to be an "old style" 2341... Check this webpage for more King pics.

Tim

http://www.kwintetgoedkoper.nl/king_2340_bbb_tuba.htm

trseaman wrote:Hi Dan,

Yes the bottom horn appears to be an "old style" 2341... Check this webpage for more King pics.

Tim

http://www.kwintetgoedkoper.nl/king_2340_bbb_tuba.htm

Thanks for the confirmation and link, Tim!

I'm not so sure.

If you're going by the tuning slide in the leadpipe, that only indicates a 1240 made before 1958. After that, the tuning slide was after the valve cluster. That horn looks like a 1241 to me.

See, for example:

http://www.hnwhite.com/Low%20Brass.htm

Chuck(G) wrote:I'm not so sure.

If you're going by the tuning slide in the leadpipe, that only indicates a 1240 made before 1958. After that, the tuning slide was after the valve cluster. That horn looks like a 1241 to me.

See, for example:

http://www.hnwhite.com/Low%20Brass.htm

Did King make a removable recording belled tuba with the tuning slide in the leadpipe?

I don't know for certain, but I suspect the answer is "yes'. Detachable bells were being provided for the 30's "monster" rotary basses as an option. Probably one had only to ask.

Dan,
Pretty sure that what you have is a King 1241. It has the same configuration of tubing out of the valves as the earlier 1241s. The third valve has a double wrap on top and the first valve is not movable for tuning. I have a 1958ish 1240 and a 1963ish 1241 they are both configured the same.

My understanding is that the 2341 came into being in the early 1970s. The third valve tubing had the double wrap taken out and the first valve tubing allowed for tuning. This configuration was applied to the new 2341.

Normal wrote:Dan,
Pretty sure that what you have is a King 1241. It has the same configuration of tubing out of the valves as the earlier 1241s. The third valve has a double wrap on top and the first valve is not movable for tuning. I have a 1958ish 1240 and a 1963ish 1241 they are both configured the same.

My understanding is that the 2341 came into being in the early 1970s. The third valve tubing had the double wrap taken out and the first valve tubing allowed for tuning. This configuration was applied to the new 2341.

So.... using your analogy... the 1235 (Eb) and 1240 (BBb) were made with both detachable and fixed bells? and leadpipes with and without main tuning slides incorporated? ... depending on the years of manufacture?

I have a King catalog that show the 1235 and 1240 tubas. Both have fixed bells and leadpipe tuning slides. Maybe someone has a catalog showing different configurations. ??

Thanks for the link.
My 1940 King Eb, top 3 Has a removable forward facing bell and looks like # 177340.

Before the current one-piece fixed-bell King 2341 tubas were introduced, the 1240 and 2340 were 3-valve instruments, the 1241 and 2341 were 4-valve instruments, and each model had a suffix of "UB" for upright bell or "BF" for bell-front.