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I have acquired an old Besson EEb tuba. The bell is inscribed "Besson & Co, Leviathan Model, Class A, New Standard Prototype Compensator". It is a three valver, low pitch, with a compensating tube from third to first valve. It is playable but needs a little attention. Cannot anybody date this horn for me? Any information on this model would be appreciated.

A serial # might be helpful.

Boosey owned or had license to the Blaikley patent for this compensating system from 1878. I don’t know whether Besson at some point of time got access to that patent. But in 1940 Boosey & Hawkes merged with Besson, and from then we definitely have compensating Bessons. Only the brass instruments’ industry was re-purposed for making the fuel feeding tubing for Spitfires and other light fighters during wartime.

Again a serial # would be helpful, as my gut-feeling says, that Leviathan points towards a somewhat older instrument.

If this tuba was originally built in low pitch it was made for export or for British military use, as amateur bands were high pitch until more modern days. As far as I remember Besson/Boosey & Hawkes continued making high pitch through the year of 1967.

British bands on foot (that is non-cavalry) used the same instruments for marching and seated concerts, as they in fact often marched to and from street/square/park concerts. Therefor the tubists, 1 Eb and 1 BBb in regimental bands, 3 tubas combined in the household bands and other state ceremonial bands, used 3+1 compensators, the BBb versions much hated by the players for their immense weight. 3 valve compensating tubas and euphoniums were intended for cavalry bands, where the players only had one hand free for the instrument.

Photos would be very welcome. If you don’t have your own server space, you may upload the photos as attachments to your postings (3 photos max in each post).

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

Took a look in my own online galleries and found a Leviathan Eb with 3+1 comp pistons from 1925.

Also found two photos of a 1933 Leviathan Eb similar to the object of this thread.

Klaus

Thank you Klaus for this invaluable information. The Leviathan in question looks identical to the 1933 model you posted. The serial no. is 119575. I have disassembled the horn for cleaning and renovation, but will post pics when that work is completed.

111,500 was made in 1921.

124,350 was made in 1931.

1927 or 1928 wouldn’t be all wrong for your sample. Yours isn’t old for a Besson Eb, My 3+1 non-comper is from 1870 and still plays.

Enjoy!

Klaus

Yes, and another chart would put the horn @ 1924.

So, without actual company records, yes, mid-20's is a reasonable approximation.

So, how does it play?

Thanks guys for that information. At long last I have a horn older than me. (ha!ha!) Surprisingly, it plays quite well for it's age. Intonation is good except for the Eb at the bottom of the stave, which is flat and needs a bit of lipping up. The sound is quite solid across all octaves and similar in tone to the early Imperials. It has a sweet top end, and is easy to fill above high Bb. All of the silver plating has worn off the valves, but is about 95% intact on the tuba itself. It is heavily dented, but previous owners have taken care to ensure that the denting is evenly spread all over the horn, although the back & bottom bows have been the most popular areas of dent creation. The bell and bugle are in very good shape. When I've finished some minor overhauling I will use this horn in gigs where it fits in, with confidence it will do the job.