TubeNet

While looking at the tuba collection at Tuba Exchange, I found this bad boy. How common are/were up bell front action King Monster Eb's? I've never seen nor heard of another one; the only big front valve King Eb I've ever seen is that recording bell one at Dillon's.

No one here (unless they have done substantial research on the subject) will know for sure how common these horns were. I'm not even sure how one would express such a figure...are you interested in raw data such as how many of these were made, or how much of a percentage of total tubas made for those years were front-action monster Eb's?

How about contacting King (Conn-Selmer) directly at 1-800-348-7567? I'm sure they can give you more information or at least tell you where to go to find the information you seek. Please share any information you get from them as I'm sure many here would find the subject interesting.

As has been said many times on these forums, the plural of anecdote does not equal data. Your own experience of how many of these horns you have personally seen or heard of really doesn't count for much, and neither does anyone else's. The world doesn't start or end at the tip of one's nose.

Todd S. Malicoate wrote:As has been said many times on these forums, the plural of anecdote does not equal data. Your own experience of how many of these horns you have personally seen or heard of really doesn't count for much, and neither does anyone else's. The world doesn't start or end at the tip of one's nose.

Yeah, I figured. Oh, well...another productive thread.

To get back on topic, I've never seen one, either. They must not be very common.

Todd S. Malicoate wrote:No one here (unless they have done substantial research on the subject) will know for sure how common these horns were. I'm not even sure how one would express such a figure...are you interested in raw data such as how many of these were made, or how much of a percentage of total tubas made for those years were front-action monster Eb's?

How about contacting King (Conn-Selmer) directly at 1-800-348-7567? I'm sure they can give you more information or at least tell you where to go to find the information you seek. Please share any information you get from them as I'm sure many here would find the subject interesting.

As has been said many times on these forums, the plural of anecdote does not equal data. Your own experience of how many of these horns you have personally seen or heard of really doesn't count for much, and neither does anyone else's. The world doesn't start or end at the tip of one's nose.

I have no clue, either.

I would bet that an 'N' of '1' would be statistically significant to Bob (assuming that there was a 'For Sale" sign attached to it).

I've run accross a few of the top action versions of this (I'm currently hunting for one...). Haven't seen the front valve version in person... but the pictured one is an earlier stuyle for them... they made more in a slightly different configuration later (have a look at http://www.hnwhite.com" target="_blank).

Between approx 1900 and 1930, York, Holton, and King (Cleveland) made monster Ebs, so they were probably not that uncommon. Since the Eb was commonly used in bands (mixed with BBbs), they would have wanted large instruments, not the kind of Eb now used as a solo instrument. Many of the Gnagey tubas use monster Eb bugles, so Sam is evidently able to find them.

SK