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Neat picture, from the book "One Man's Eye": Photographs from the Alan Siegel Collection.

Interesting composition, but it troubles me to see probable exploitation because of the performer's physical condition. I know, circuses used to do it all the time.

Q1. What is that cylinder-like object in the performer's right hand, which looks like it is attached to the instrument?

Q2. Would this be an unwrapped euphonium, going by the short tubing length?

I think a better question is:

Why isn't the player using a mouthpiece?

This helicon has a size and a wrap allowing for any normal size player not overgrown horizontally. It is a 3 valve F helicon as seen from German and especially from Czech makers.

The player uses a French horn mouthpiece, against which he presses his right thumb.

In the context of a clown band it is not unlikely, that the player exploits the close harmonics above the 8th partial of the helicon. The trombone slide and the funny clothing of the other players make entities like the European White Clown and a musical circus act appear being a very likely context.

danke.