Tuba manufacturing

[burningchrome]

So, you can buy a MW Fafner, or a "hand-made" Fafner. I watched the behind-the-scenes video on Miraphone's website, and it looks mostly handmade. Does anyone know; does MW do something different with the cheaper horns? Do they have some automated bell and bow machine? Are the Chinese manufacturers automated or all hand-built? (No geopolitical/economic debates please.)

Thanks!
Rob

[Tom]

It all depends what you call "hand made" or "hand built."

What I'm getting at is that EVERY tuba is hand assembled...the good ones, the bad ones, the Chinese ones and the German ones.

That process (as least thus far) has not been automated. It probably could be done just as robotic welding is done in automotive manufacturing, but would be extremely expensive to refit musical instrument factories in such a way.

Curmudgeon is right on about the process at MW. The hand-made parts of from sheet brass are STILL run through the same hydraulic forming molds as the "production" horns are. Most people would be amazed at the amount of time and level of "hand made" that goes into their "production" tuba, at least at MW.

Speaking of MW, they are only built in Geretsried and no B&S tubas are built at that location despite being manufactured by the same parent company and using some of the same parts. The Geretsried factory has under 30 workers and is surprisingly "old world" in most respects. So...there is a very good chance your MW is being built by the very same workers using the very same tooling regardless of if it is officially a "hand made" tuba or not.

[tubajoe]

I have heard that MW is similar, but Miraphone is 100% hand and 100% German made in house. The company is even employee-owned.

I saw the entire process start-to-finish when I visited there a year and a half ago.

http://www.tubajoe.com/tubajoe/2011/11/ ... phone.html" target="_blank

...hydraulic molds. The tubes start out closer to the final product and have an ever so slightly heavier material thickness.

Yep, that's the main difference with modern horns versus the older ones. The molds result in a slightly thicker bottom bow than 100% hand hammering (I was speaking with Miraphone about this just today!) but also result in more consistency.

...but molds or not, it's all still done in-house by Bavarian dudes listening to Polka. (not kidding about the Polka!)

[bort]

...it's all still done in-house by Bavarian dudes listening to Polka. (not kidding about the Polka!)

Dream job! Are they hiring?

[Jess Haney]

...it's all still done in-house by Bavarian dudes listening to Polka. (not kidding about the Polka!)

Dream job! Are they hiring?

+1