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Anyone out there rebuild rotary valves? I have an over-worn Cerveny rotor I'm considering for a project, but I'm not well equipped in this arena and Anderson doesn't do rotors.

Thanks for any help that can be offered!

These folks rebuild rotors:

http://www.houghtoncustomhorns.com/dennis/Tuba.html" target="_blank

J.c.
I do rebuild rotor valves on occasion. The old Cerveny and Lidl hollow rotors can be a bit of a challenge (if that is what you are working with) the later solid designs are a bit simpler. Give me a shout if you feel I can be of assistance. Best of luck with your project.

Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
206.241.5767
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank

In your own back yard, Chuck Ward rebuilds rotors. He is in Cleveland.

http://www.chuckwardbrass.com/

Most rotors can be brought back to reliable service by a rotor bearing swedging and re-fitting. This can be quite tedious and time-consuming, but if you have a 100-year-old Cerveny that you want to keep all-original (recent project, oh-my), then it may be worth the work and resulting cost.

My experience is this - plated rotors seldom if ever can be brought to the point of working as smoothly as the original, solid-metal rotors. I have worked on rotors that were nickel-plated, and even on an antique instrument where the rotors had been silver-plated.

I tend more and more to agree with Bloke about replacing truly worn-out rotors instead of trying to plate them. I know of a player who owns a vintage Sander tuba that was refitted with new Meinlschmidt rotors, and the 100-year-old CC plays like a new horn. I visited with the Meinlschmidt folks at the Frankfurt Music Messe last Spring, and they indicated that they would be willing and able to supply me with just about any sort of rotor set. So, great rotors can be had.

bloke wrote:...finding an el-smasho...

Glad I finally know the technical term for it.

But really, this has been an interesting thread!