TubeNet

The females of the house are hooked on Downton Abbey and had it on tonight. I happened to wander by and noticed they had a scene with what appeared to be a '20's jazz band in London. The tuba player had a large upright FA American style BAT. I didn't get a long look, but in my brief look it seemed at least as large as a 345. Anybody see it? Would something like a Conn Orchestral been common in London in the 1920's? Would London jazz bands of the period have used an upright tuba and something this large? The show purports to be authentic using period cars etc. so I'm curious if that extends all the way to the tuba in a jazz band.

Wasn't part of the plot that it was an American jazz band on tour in the UK, and that's why they were there?

Not an American band. I thought it was a Souzie.

More interesting to me was watching "Alexander's Ragtime Band"...2 BATs in the orchestra at the end. York was my impulse. Not a great movie really, but with 30 or so Berlin songs, and Ethel Merman as a young babe...

It was like a 1/2 second, but my wife and I both saw it. I'll have to check again when PBS has it available for streaming, so I can pause it and have a better look. Glad I wasn't the only one who saw this.

I have the 'season four' DVD's. I got a glimpse of it but wasn't paying attention. Which episode was it and about where in the program. I'll try to find it and get a screen shot.

Last episode, probably in the first 30 mins or so.

bort wrote:Last episode, probably in the first 30 mins or so.

Which episode? (number or title)

Season 4 Episode 8.

It's a Baer.

York #3?

We watched Downton Abbey tonight and saw the tuba in question. I paused the DVR and shot a picture with my cellphone. My wife was laughing.

There have been a couple of different bands featured. The one actually connected most closely with the plot featured a very prominent and authentic bass sax. Bass saxes were quite commonly used in the 1920s. That band was featured largely because Lady Rose McClare was dating the bandleader and brought the band from London to the Abbey to play for Lord Grantham's birthday party.
I think the band with the tuba was playing at a party attended by the Prince of Wales and Lady Rose, among others. By the way, when the Dowager Countess, played by Dame Maggie Smith, was confronted with a jazz band for the first time, her comment was "I wonder if any of them know what the others are playing?"

that doesn't look like an authentic c.1924 tuba to me!

I was wondering about the Baer comment...it very well could be.

Hard to see by the picture, but I do not think it's a Bear. The 1st, 3rd and 4th valve cicuit loops would all be at the top bow. With the 3rd being lower it could however be a 2165.

I also seem to spot a rotor on the small side of MTS

Hahahaha

That tuba appears at the 5:51 mark in episode 8. It's hardly a 1924 tuba. It looks like the Meinl 2165 5 valve 5/4 tuba that is pictured here:

I think that scene was filmed in London. Maybe Jonathan knows the tubist and can confim the make of tuba. It is probably the player's personal horn and not just a 'prop'.

No piston fafner
Still vote for a 2165

Lectron wrote:No piston fafner
Still vote for a 2165

Yes... I changed my original post. Is the 195/5 the same horn except in BBb? There is a big difference in the leadpipe. The tuning wraps look similar.

Funny though... the piston horns are noted in several places on The Web as being in the 'Fafner' series.

TubaTinker wrote: the Meinl 2165 5 valve 5/4 tuba that is pictured here:

The 2165 is a 5/4 tuba nowadays?