"Kaiser?"

[Steve Marcus]

When asked what make and model this tuba is, Chris Schmidt, its lucky owner, answered, "It's a Kaiser BBb, purchased from eBay."

Kaiser--Chris Schmidt.jpg (57.21 KiB) Viewed 1274 times

These questions certainly are not meant to embarrass Chris (besides, I'd like to try the horn someday!), but I'm curious:

Is "Kaiser" the name of a company, builder, or brand? I thought the term simply referred to a style or size of horn.

Who is the manufacturer of this tuba, and is there an actual model designation? Has anyone besides Chris seen or does anyone else own a tuba exactly like this one?

[Kevin Hendrick]

When asked what make and model this tuba is, Chris Schmidt, its lucky owner, answered, "It's a Kaiser BBb, purchased from eBay."

Kaiser--Chris Schmidt.jpg

These questions certainly are not meant to embarrass Chris (besides, I'd like to try the horn someday!), but I'm curious:

Is "Kaiser" the name of a company, builder, or brand? I thought the term simply referred to a style or size of horn.

Who is the manufacturer of this tuba, and is there an actual model designation? Has anyone besides Chris seen or does anyone else own a tuba exactly like this one?

Looks like a Cerveny CBB-601 to me -- and yes, "Kaiser" is a reference to the size of the instrument (largest, as in the King or Emperor).

[RanmaSyaoran]

Bloody hell, that things huge!

Adding it to my "list of instruments to play / buy".

[TubaTinker]

..... Looks like a Cerveny CBB-601 to me -- and yes, "Kaiser" is a reference to the size of the instrument (largest, as in the King or Emperor).

Yes... I also think this is a 601 or a close variant.

This one is now living Louisiana.

[Donn]

By the way - I believe that's the same word as caesar, just spelled according to German practice.

[bloke]

I believe "Kaiser" is a "size" reference, much like the late 1970's Swiss-created marketing term "grand orchestral", which refers to tubas nearly that size that have front-action pistons.

I generally associate "Kaiser" with extremely large rotary BBb tubas.

I have learned to associate "grand orchestral" with oversize front-action piston tubas in CC.


This is the first tuba that I ever saw described as "grand orchestral".
Some refer to some old Conn tubas by this description.
I would like to see the original advertising.

[RanmaSyaoran]

..... Looks like a Cerveny CBB-601 to me -- and yes, "Kaiser" is a reference to the size of the instrument (largest, as in the King or Emperor).

Yes... I also think this is a 601 or a close variant.

This one is now living Louisiana.

I can now see why that would have been "interesting" to ship to me overseas!

[talleyrand]

.
I would like to see the original advertising.

Me too. I call mine an "Orchestra Grand Bass" because that's what TE calls the two they've got in their historical collection. Mine predates the model number system, so it's definitely not a 36J, which is what the previous owner called it. I assume the TE folks know what they're called, but to be sure I've been looking for Conn catalogues from around 1915. No luck so far.

[oedipoes]

When asked what make and model this tuba is, Chris Schmidt, its lucky owner, answered, "It's a Kaiser BBb, purchased from eBay."

The attachment Kaiser--Chris Schmidt.jpg is no longer available

These questions certainly are not meant to embarrass Chris (besides, I'd like to try the horn someday!), but I'm curious:

Is "Kaiser" the name of a company, builder, or brand? I thought the term simply referred to a style or size of horn.

Who is the manufacturer of this tuba, and is there an actual model designation? Has anyone besides Chris seen or does anyone else own a tuba exactly like this one?

Great picture!

It looks a very lot like the Bohland & Fuchs kaiser tuba that Mr. Walter Nirschl recently made a 'remake' of.
It was modelled after a historical instrument from Mr. Walter Hilgers.

It is sold by Mr. Tucci:
http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,showdetail,1308840462-16903,d,,tuba.bbtu,90-mwn-bf,,,.htm

That instrument was also briefly discussed on this forum:
http://forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41406&hilit=kaiser+hilgers

Wim

[Curmudgeon]

Conn used "Orchestra Grand" (grand orchestral) many decades before the Swiss were involved.

[bloke]

Conn used "Orchestra Grand" (grand orchestral) many decades before the Swiss were involved.

I've heard this and have no reason at all to not believe it. I've never had an opportunity to see this in old catalogs.

Regardless, I believe the term "grand orchestral" refers to a certain general shape of a tuba with certain features...as does "kaiser".

[Kevin Hendrick]

Here's a link to the (I think) current version:

http://www.cerveny.biz/tuben/bbb_tuben/cbb601_4mr.php