TubeNet

There seems to be a lot of BBb with forward facing recording bells, but not CC.

I understand that recording bells used to be used in American orchestras. Were any models of CC tubas made with recording bells?

Sure did,
In fact, I used my King CC last weekend on an outdoor quintet gig. My horn has both recording and upright bell and has a .750'' bore. It was built in 1929. Its starting to really show its age so I guess I will need to restore it in a few years.

I enjoy it very much and have no plans of parting with it.


Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
www.oberloh.com

Daniel, Any chance of a picture of your King?

Thanks.

Jonathan

Back in the 1960's my highschool had a 4 piston valve bell forward King CC tuba.
I don't know the vintage or model, but it was unique in that the 4th valve was 2-3 substitute.
I was allowed to use it for a couple of years after graduation. I lost track of it and have no idea of its fate.

Around 1962 Eli Newberger purchased a tuba fitting that description. I believe he bought it from Walter Sear. A few years later he offered to sell it to me for $200, but I did not have the money.
Bob Escudera played a similar tuba in Fletcher Henderson's band back in the 1920s. I have ofter wondered if it was the same horn.
I also honked on a nice small-bore York CC with recording bell and case at Walter Sear's studio.
When I played in high school all-state band in 1959 and 1960 there were seven recording-bell tubas and one upright, which was considered very foreign and old-fashioned at that time.

When I first got seriously interested in tubas (about 1973), I sent off to all the tuba manufacturers to get their literature. All the American companies at that time made upright tubas and sousaphones. King made a recording bass. Everything was in BBb. DEG sold some brands in Eb, F, and CC. Mirafone made tubas in every imaginable key, but only listed recording basses in BBb and Eb. I asked Mike Zucek (who pretty much ran the place when they were in Los Angeles) if I could get a CC recording bass and he said yes--i later realized that any manufacturer will make any instrument you want, so long as you are willing to fork over the money. Anyway, the only CC recording bass listed was Meinl-Weston. Actually they had three models, with both four and five valve versions.

Mirafone made a CC sousaphone in the 1980s.

I am using this spelling because I am referring to the operations the company had in the United States through 1990.

Holton did finally make a detachable bell 345 for Mr. Jacobs . The bell front is interesting in that it's the same diameter as the upright bell . He eventually sold it to Russ Ward , who later sold it to Bob Carpenter who still has it and uses it in the Orlando Phil . today .It's a great playing horn and they both sound fantastic on it . Russ sold it to finance a Yorkbrunnerwhich was his majic wand until the demise of the Florida Symphony fourteen years ago . He told me Mr . Jacobs wanted the bell front for the accoustical challenges at Ravinia . Ed

King also made a one piece (fixed) recording bell tuba in C on request. Ralph Escudero appears to have played one in the Fletcher Henderson band of the 20s. They were offered in my 1938 King catalogue as an option in building their model 1241, which was normally in Bb.

Someone once told me that they had a problem spinning the one-piece recording bells due to the long offset bell stack hanging off the end! Anyone know if there's any truth to this?

I played a 4 valve King CC tuba with a detachable recording bell when I was with the Guy Lombardo Band from 1975-78. I purchased it from another gentleman who played it in the GL Band years earlier. He sold it to me with both bells for $1200.

We can make one for you with both bells. Got any takers? It's a project that would be lots of fun to do.

Bill Troiano wrote:I played a 4 valve King CC tuba with a detachable recording bell when I was with the Guy Lombardo Band from 1975-78. I purchased it from another gentleman who played it in the GL Band years earlier. He sold it to me with both bells for $1200.

I saw you play it. I was in junior high school and my folks and I went to see Guy Lombardo when the band played in Springfield, Missouri. Since I played in school bands, both concert and jazz band, they thought it would be good for me to see. I did really enjoy the show. Guy had a smile that was almost as wide as the Cheshire cat! We all really enjoyed it. Thanks.

The horn that the Pt606P is patterned after is an old York , formerly owned by Bob Tucci . It now lives here in central Florida and it has both bells .It's a great playing/sounding horn . I also owned a CC King with both bells , it had a master tuner in the leadpipe . It belonged to Bill Rose before I got it and the hard cases said Goldman Band on them . Ed

At one time (mid-1980s), there was a silverplate CC with 4 pistons in the CMC Tuba House. It had a Marzan brand on both bells, but was most likely a B & M build. Great sound, very hefty. Unfortunately, it was more work than it was worth to play it in tune. Interestingly enough, it played better with the recording bell. As far as I know, it was a prototype that never made it into production. Anybody know whatever became of Fred's old menagerie?

gregsundt wrote:Anybody know whatever became of Fred's old menagerie?

Sold off on eBay recently, there were several threads in the eBay forum about it.

Eric "who admires the man's innovations in ergonomics and useability, but wonders why they never enjoyed more widespread acceptance" L.

WakinAZ wrote:

gregsundt wrote:Anybody know whatever became of Fred's old menagerie?

Sold off on eBay recently, there were several threads in the eBay forum about it.

Eric "who admires the man's innovations in ergonomics and useability, but wonders why they never enjoyed more widespread acceptance" L.

Sorry, I meant Fred Marrich (Custom Music), not Fred Marzan.

iiipopes, I'm glad you enjoyed listening to the Guy Lombardo Band back then. I wish I could remember something about the Sprinfield, MO gig. When you play in a new place almost every night, they do tend to meld together. I remember many places and many things that occurred on gigs, but I can't place Springfield. I saved my old itineraries and we were there alright. Was it a dance or a concert job? And, what kind of venue/building was it in? Just trying to see if I remember anything about the gig.