TubeNet

This specimen is owned by Rod Christian, a tuba player in our community band. The only markings on it are a lot of flowery engraving, with the following text:

Favorite
Jos. Jiran
Chicago, Ills.

It is in A=440, key of Eb, 19" bell. Original silver plate.

Rod bought it in a Chicago pawn shop back in 1969. He did a bit of research on it back then, and it was built in the mid-20's and played by a polkameister emigre Czech named Jiran.

I took a few snaps of it:

Anybody know more about this tuba? It plays just fine, he sits right behind me every gig.

Dennis

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/display.php

There is a little more information in Jiran there. Sure looks similar to an old Conn.

A real Polka Tuba, indeed! I just came across this old post this morning, as I was doing some investigation
on an old euphonium that just entered the shop 15 minutes ago. A "Majestic", Jos. Jiran, Chicago, IL instrument
with no serial number, I immediately assumed that this was a Bohemian import, but the more I read, I think that
the instrument was made by Josef Jiran, a Bohemian import himself. It is a surprisingly good player, only needing
a good cleaning and some dent work. The evidence suggests to me that, whilst not a lot different from the Conn
instrument of that time, there are enough differences to make me think that Josef, who apprenticed as a maker in
Bohemia before imigrating to the US, actually made it himself. The euphonium has the same basic lines and shapes
as the "Favorite" tuba in it's valveset. The overall shape of the tuba leads me to believe that Conn did not make it.
The bottom caps and braces strongly suggest Bohemian style as well.