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Need raincatcher information please

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:14 pm
by rodgeman
I was on a day trip on 9/10 with my family to Wickenberg, AZ. We stopped in a one room schoolhouse museum.

I saw this in a corner:
raincatcher_1.jpg
I thought it was a raincatcher. After asking I re-positioned the bell to this:
raincatcher_2.jpg
It has a Frank Holton mouthpiece. It reads Carl Fischer; New York, USA; American [something]. I could not really shine it to see.
The picture of the makers mark did not turn out well as I only had my phone and was not expecting a tuba adventure.

It seems small for a BBb. I am not sure. Again I only had a few minutes with the tuba.

The curator thinks it is from the 1930's. I searched and could not find information on Carl Fischer - New York.
I am doing this for the museum. Any help is appreciated.

The valves were sticky. I think with valve oil they would work well. The curator and my wife said the tone was really nice.

Re: Need raincatcher information please

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:36 pm
by rodgeman
Thanks - it could very well be. Did Carl Fischer rebrand Holtons?

Re: Need raincatcher information please

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:06 am
by Frank Ortega
I have seen BBb tubas marked Carl Fishers that were actually Yorks. But I think Pan American/Conn also made stencils for Carl Fisher. The ferruls don't look like Holton.

A closer look at the valves might also show some signs of which company made this beauty.

Frank

Re: Need raincatcher information please

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:42 pm
by rodgeman
Frank Ortega wrote:I have seen BBb tubas marked Carl Fishers that were actually Yorks. But I think Pan American/Conn also made stencils for Carl Fisher. The ferruls don't look like Holton.

A closer look at the valves might also show some signs of which company made this beauty.

Frank
Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the valves. Next trip.

Thanks for the info.

Re: Need raincatcher information please

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:57 am
by iiipopes
EVERYBODY at one time or another made stencils for Carl Fisher. As for this raincatcher, I'm with bloke -- I'm thinking Holton. The Holton mouthpiece with it has a better than 50/50 chance of being the original mouthpiece.