Old Army Sousaphones

[Ace]

I was browsing through some old 35 mm slides and ran across this picture of my Army band at Fort Lewis, Washington, circa 1959-60. It shows six new Sousaphones. I was a trumpet player at that time and had no interest in lower brasses. But now that I am reformed and enlightened, I'm wondering what brand those new Sousaphones were. From the old and faded photo, can anyone determine what brand Sousaphones the Army was issuing in those days?

[cthompsonjr]

Looks like a couple of Conn 20K's to me!

[iiipopes]

Yep. Played a "retired" one as a "practice" horn when in marching band in grad school.

[Rick Denney]

The one on the end looks like a 20K. The branches are a bit too fat to be a King, Reynolds, or a Conn 14K, and at the time I don't think there were many other options. It would be easier to know for sure with a clearer view of the valve bodies, but I'm not sure who else was selling new sousaphones at the time.

Rick "not liking how they are wearing those sousaphones" Denney