Conn BBb sousaphone - helicon conversions

[iiipopes]

In the old days, when Conn made both, didn't the helicons have longer branches from the valve block to the main tuning slide?

[imperialbari]

The bore is quite small (ie. "capillary") at that point, and if any water does collect, it's easy enough to "whoosh" it on past the loop with a sudden blast of air.

Which happens twice per measure anyway.

K