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I would love to find a copy of the ads/art work as listed in the early York catalogs for this Horn.
front action 3 valve York #91 BBb. I have chased this before with no luck. Any leads? I have found the original #91 mouthpiece
and have a few vintage method books from the 20s & 30s. It would be cool to have the front action ads. Thanks for any related info on this horn.

Hi-
Lots of York stuff on one of Dick Barth's links-FYI-enjoy-mark

http://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#al ... 3210364689" target="_blank

I think the reason for the three valves is because this was mainly produced as a band horn. Most band lit of the day could be handled on the three valve BBb horns. Heck... most all trumpets are 3 valves. Also note the third slide is a long pull... 8-9 inches. Not sure why, as the low f and e are very close to pitch. Once I had an idea to have a 3rd slide built with a rotor for extra tubing. Seems like when I checked the serial number it was made before the Chicago Yorks. I like to think that these are the horns that inspired the orders for the Chicago CCs. This horn really plays nice. so rich with color. I have done several symphony gigs with this horn. I don't do much big group playing anymore, but the times I had this instrument on stage was a treat I will always remember. My high point was doing the Serenade for Winds by Strauss and sitting right in the middle of the woodwind section with that big silver horn. The horn whispers and the resonance blended nicely with the woodwinds. The Holton I once owned seemed to put sound in every crevice in the hall... the York seemed to vibrate all the dust in every crevice with its richness. The overtones seem to hook up with the ensemble like no other horn I have... you dig? I really hope all the future owners of this instrument will have the since to leave it as is.

I've played the horn in that add. Not sure if it's the same one, but the same make and model. There's one sitting in my local music store. Horrid condition, but the sound it still produces is incredible. I've offered to buy the horn, but they won't sell it. It has so much history with the town that they refuse to let it go. Depressing, really. I'd like to see it get a full restoration.

I wish Florence wasn't so far from Pensacola, I'd come on up and see that thing. Also wouldn't mind taking a run on that 3050. I've never played one but always thought it might be a good horn for me. I like valves and I had an HB21 for a while. It played like a dream Just a little big for solo work, which is about all I do. I thought the Wilson would be the same/close to quality but maybe a little tighter/smaller than the HB21. Hopefully better intonation. Let me know if you ever come toward Pensacola. I always enjoy a good tuba afternoon.

Here's the York up against my old cut 345. The Holton was like everyone says- anearth mover! I never enjoyed playing it like I do the York.
The Holton was like a tool... the York is like a brass Stradivarius.

I have a 1927 catalog, and oddly that particular one is not shown in that one. Bell-up forward action Eb and four-valve CC/BBb.
The front action 3-valve is shown with a recording bell.

Yep. Everything to my knowledge is original. It's a crazy sound that it produces, for it to be in such poor condition. I wish they'd let me buy it. I'd for certain give it a proper home.

Went into my local music shop... They have an old original York that needs some loving, they wouldn't take my cash offer. Said the tuba carried too much history with the city I live in.

TubaZac2012 wrote:Went into my local music shop... They have an old original York that needs some loving, they wouldn't take my cash offer. Said the tuba carried too much history with the city I live in.

Interpret as: Offer more money.

I'm not gonna post how much I offered, but I offered them well over what the horn was worth, in the condition, ect. If I got it I'd take it straight away to get redone, it's been rode really hard and put away wet.

lost wrote:The york 6/4 at baltimore brass was a front action like the op. Wondering why nobody jumped on that. Sideways 26 inch recording bell made people scared. Huge warm tone and in great condition!

Finding an original big york that hasnt been customized with 7.5 valves and cut to some other key is truly rare. Somebody should post a pic of it from this shop!

The one that is at my local shop here in Florence is an original, but I don't know if the valves are original or not, I've only seen the one, so I'm ignorant in that sense. It's in like D to D+ shape, but I know it could be restored. I don't want to cut it, just really get it into true working order.. If I owned that sucker I'd be one happy person. The sound it produces, even with it needed all the work it needs, is incredible.

Well, that's the one problem with things that aren't for sale -- sometimes, they just aren't for sale! At least they were nice about it.

In terms of recording bells, yes, I'm sure that's a red flag for a lot of folks. Maybe it's just me, but in 20 years of playing tuba, I have seen exactly *one* recording bell tuba in action in an ensemble (and that was last year!). At least on the east coast (and where I've been within the east coast), nobody wants them. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but it's what I've experienced.