TubeNet

http://s478.photobucket.com/user/scottw ... n.jpg.html
I hope I actually got a picture in this post--sometimes I do it right!
I am picking up a Civil War-era Eb Bass Saxhorn on Friday from the guy who put it back into playing condition. That will be the first time I have seen the horn, so I know almost nothing about it other than this picture he sent. It has been in a private collection for many years and was sold recently by the widow. There are no markings anywhere on it, I am told, to indicate the maker. Would anyone care to hazard a guess as to that? Unfortunately, I won't be able to post any more pictures until next week, so have at this one!
Thanks,
Scottw

Edit: I see what I did wrong--I submitted it as img instead of url. This should work! Sorry

no link or picture on my screen...can you repost? I will have no clue whatsoever, but it will be fun to see it.

That is really odd: I see the link to photobucket when I submitted it, between the [img] thingies, but that is absent when I view it, too. Anyone know what is going wrong?

Here ya go!

Kory101 wrote:Here ya go!

Thanks!

I can’t tell anything about the maker. Only I never saw this type rotor triggers on instruments made anywhere else than in the US.

Klaus

Agreed, and we own a similar unidentifiable instrument (in much worse shape). However, the bell wreath is rare on US-made instruments of that era and is more typical of European manufacture.

GC wrote:Agreed, and we own a similar unidentifiable instrument (in much worse shape). However, the bell wreath is rare on US-made instruments of that era and is more typical of European manufacture.

I am not sure if this is another clue, besides the wreath: The guy who did the repairs says that the mouthpiece shank is huge, swallowing up the mouthpiece he uses on his Marzan. Also, he said it could be Italian, as the odor of garlic was especially strong before he cleaned it out!

Any chance your horn and this one are one and the same?

http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/Brass/civi ... -tuba.html

Also, I believe there were at least a couple makers out of Boston using bell garlands. I'd suggest an email to Robb Stewart.

Mitch wrote:Any chance your horn and this one are one and the same?

http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/Brass/civi ... -tuba.html

Also, I believe there were at least a couple makers out of Boston using bell garlands. I'd suggest an email to Robb Stewart.

Thanks, Mitch,
I copied each picture to about the same size and put them side by side. They are almost certainly of the same period, but there are several differences: The wrap is a good bit tighter in the Rugs/Relics horn. The configuration of the lead pipe is different. The bell in the Rugs/Relics appears to be smaller. The bottom bow appears to come together with the upper bow/bell up higher than in mine and the ferrules are a little different. The finger loop on #2 is not there on mine.The braces are different. The bore seems larger on mine.
A lot of the same look, though. Thanks for the link.

It looks like the Slater Eb that I play in Saxton's Cornet Band. Horn made in 1865 in New York. Yours in much shinier!

Saw another one of these tubas on eBay about a year ago. It sold way out of my price range.
Great playing little tuba! Plays a lot better than some of the modern horns today.

Do you have any information about the Slater company? Google results are a bit sparse. Your horn looks exactly like the one we have currently in for repair (but in much better shape).

Slater is noted as both a manufacturer and an importer, so I think it still leaves the matter of origin open. It'd be great to find a definitive answer.

Thanks for the info.

I don't know much, but I will contact someone that knows a lot more about it than I.
I'll report whatever info I find out.

Thanks.

I think we have a winner! Your Slater looks like my twin. About the only thing I could see different is the absence of a pinky ring, and that may have been the angle of the picture.And, the bottom bow on yours looks heavier-built with a guard. Maybe the new one has it, too, but it doesn't show up in the only picture I have of it.
I am picking it up tomorrow morning and, if it plays for me, I will play it Saturday night at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa for a period ball. Otherwise, I will just have to play a more modern Eb I am borrowing if the "Slater" is too squirrely.
Thanks 11annienorm for the match and the pictures. Now I know what it is and can research it's history a lot easier.
Scottw

Grooving for Heaven wrote:leadpipe might be different too...

The repair guy said there was extensive damage to the leadpipe, which might explain the different bend at the receiver end. He said it will likely have to be replaced, but it is an odd size tubing. Which may account for the large shank needed for the mouthpiece? I doubt it has a separate receiver, just a leadpipe with a hole.
Norm: what case/bag will the horn fit? Ideally, a coffin case would be great, but the horn will need to fit in a gig bag if my back has to carry it.
Scottw

I found this:

There is a pinky ring. Just can't see it from the angle.
Mark, I think you're right. The leadpipe does seem different. Maybe an earlier
or later design?

We have a couple of period mouthpieces that fit, but the mouthpiece I
use is from the 1880s and I have to use an adapter. The receiver is like an Alex.
I wonder why they decided to make it so large.

Anyway, if it plays like mine, you are going to really enjoy the tuba. We tune to A .455.

Scott,

We had custom flight cases made for all the horns. No unnecessary damage.
At our next rehearsal, I'll take some pictures and send your way.
You could get Cronkhite to make you one.

Mine has the same engraving on the bell.