TubeNet

Hi!

I bought this sousaphone off ebay last thursday (which arrived this morning). I was wondering whether people actually made these at trombone Bb pitch? The lowest fundamental I can acheive is a Bb, and without doing the pedal this is the Bb on the stave. Can anybody tell me anything about this horn?

It has no name/serial number or any kind of marking, so I am unable to provide anymore information other than it has a detachable bell (screw? It doesn't screw like a french horn as such, it just has three screws in the funnel that you tighten when you slot the bell in), a baritone horn-size mouthpiece receiver and that my initial thought was that it was very reminiscent of those indian 'bessons' pocket trumpets with the hexagonal(?) valve caps.

I quickly took some pics on my phone (was in a rush so my apologies if they're blurred) which ill try and post now, but if not ill have to do it again when I get home tonight. Any help appreciated!

Bob

The easy way of transmitting information in such situations is about providing a link for the auction. If you aren’t pushing a sale and if you questions are relevant, there usually isn't too much frowning about bring the auction link here on the main board.

There have been built sousaphones in Bb tenor, F bass, Eb bass, CC contrabass, and BBb contrabass. In numbers the BBb is the most common followed by the Eb, which was made by American maker until maybe 45 or 50 years ago.

With helicons the above pitches plus the extremely rare Eb alto helicon have been seen. All mentioned pitches were intended for the player to take the instrument over the head and the right arm. Jupiter has made fake alto sousaphone held in front of the player.

Original old tenor sousaphones have popped up on eBay, but very rarely. Your instrument likely is a modern Indian made one.

Klaus

Hi-
Yes, there were Bb tenor sousaphones. Don Harry has a vintage silver 3v Bb Buescher Baritone sousaphone--the bell detaches and it is bell front--a very cute little horn. The bell is stenciled McClellan's Music --an old store here in Buffalo, but the valve casings say Buescher--the horn is like new, and everything on the instrument is original--even the one piece hard case!
mark

o.k., I watched a parade band go by in Rochester in the late 1970's. I snapped a photo of what appeared to be a very small sousaphone, which I later concluded to be a Bb tenor sousaphone, never having heard if there was indeed such a creature. I will have to dig that photo out for a closer look.
kathott

Not particularly unusual - I have played one (not a great horn) and the subject comes up quite often on TubeNet.
There is one shown here and a Buescher here and here. This one is listed as a tenor, but the extra full wrap is a bit unusual. Probably the most common is the Barcone - that is the type I played.

BTW, about Helicons, I think this is possibly the only Helicon French Horn in the world. It is playable, but a very tight fit on me!

I used to own one of the Buescher tenor sousaphones as shown in Dave's second link above. It had a 14.5" bell and was essentially a sousaphone shaped baritone. I found it to be a nice little horn and it was fun to bring to Tuba Christmas especially since it was a lot easier than bring my 40K up elevators and through crowds.