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Some of you are fond of the car analogy for tubas. Lookin' at you Bort.

So I am curious (just for fun) how people would match up current makes and models of cars with current makes and models of tubas. Do German cars match up with German tubas? Japanese? American? In my mind I tend to match up MWs with VWs and PTs with BMWs. Not even sure why...

Again, for entertainment purposes only. Not looking to start any fights or incur the Wrath of the Schlepp.

Those on here who remember that, in spite of their staid reputations, Ramblers were actually good cars will understand that my Olds 099-4 is the equivalent to my parent's old '64 Rambler Classic with a 6 cylinder and an automatic shift. Competent, durable, easy to drive, easy to keep in tune, stylish but not too fancy.

Besides, there were some newer Rambler/AMC products which were quite successful in racing.

Glad I made such an impression!

As far as brands go, these are the comparisons I make most often:

Miraphone <=> BMW
Meinl Weston <=> Mercedes
Rudolf Meinl <=> Porsche

Miraphones and BMWs are both extremely well made, and neither are uncommon. New, they are very expensive. Used, they are reasonably priced. They are solid and dependable, and it's more (or at least more than enough) tuba/car for most people. Also, both companies are just the one brand -- not a subsidiary of another company, and not a company that builds other things under another name. Instantly recognizable as a mark of consistency and quality, and never questioned or doubted. I used to own both of these, and for some hard to pinpoint reason, they just felt similar to me. However, I don't have the Miraphone anymore.

Meinl Weston and Mercedes both seem a little more expensive than Miraphone/BMW, and are also extremely well made, and the seem to carry a little more "oomph" from the name recognition. MW and Mercedes also are part of much bigger conglomerates, and the business side of things is a much bigger scale. I hear you can still order parts for a Mercedes, though.

Rudolf Meinl and Porsche, to me, are both the best of the best, even among other high-end products. I'm not just making that comparison because I own a RM, it's a comparison I've always drawn.

I'm not sure where I would place VW or Audi. I don't see a "mid-level" brand in Germany for VW, and I just don't know much about Audi's. Gronitz and Alexander probably fall in the Porsche category as well, but again, limited experience.

There are other comparisons I've made and considered separately from this, like that a King 2341 (or probably a Miraphone 186) is like the Honda Civic of tubas (it'll do everything you ever need to do, perhaps not exceptionally, but it'll get you there), or some other handful of analogies I'm not thinking about right now (like an SUV and a 6/4 BAT... you can do everything with it, but would you really want to?).

American tubas and American cars... I've never owned either, so I can't compare.

Oh, and I guess the clones are similar to how Hyundai (I know, Korean, not Chinese) has developed over the years. Hyundai used to make TERRIBLE cars. That's part of why they started the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty, to get customers and try to rebuild a reputation. Now, they are a very profitable brand, which not only has a lot of inexpensive and small cars, but also has larger cars models up to a $70k car. Not to mention, that $70k car has a lot of style similarities to a Mercedes (and the highest-end Kia looks a lot like a Jaguar).

Okay, enough from me.

The Big Ben wrote:Those on here who remember that, in spite of their staid reputations, Ramblers were actually good cars will understand that my Olds 099-4 is the equivalent to my parent's old '64 Rambler Classic with a 6 cylinder and an automatic shift. Competent, durable, easy to drive, easy to keep in tune, stylish but not too fancy.

Besides, there were some newer Rambler/AMC products which were quite successful in racing.

Thomas B. Jeffery produced bicycles in Chicago from 1878 to 1900. At the turn of the century, he switched to automobile production in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

His Rambler was introduced in the spring of 1902 and became the world's second mass-produced car, behind Oldsmobile's curved-dash model. His 1900 and 1901 prototypes featured two radical innovations: steering wheels and front-mounted engines. The brand soon came to be known as 'The Car of Steady Service.' Ramblers were for the first twenty years or so middle to upper class cars and had a great reputation. Today a top quality restored 1910 Model 54 like the one below will set you back around $350,000 to $425,000. I'd equate Rambler to another pre-war industrial heartland produced item - York tubas made in Grand Rapids, Mi.

My 65 Olds O-99 is kind of like a 65 Chevy Mailbu. Not too big, serviceable, dependable, totally American and with a few mods can really perform.

Nirschl = Ferrari
Hirsbrunner = Lamborghini
Gronitz = Corvette
B&S = Volvo
Miraphone = Audi
Meinl Weston = Honda
Yamaha = Hyundai
Alexander = Volkswagen
Rudy Meinl = Porsche
Holton = Ford
Wilson = Toyota

Hahaha! How funny. I own a Willson 3050, and drive a 2002 Toyota Camry.

You have an extremely high regard for Nissans.

You're right, I should edit Rudy Meinl to Chrysler. Does the Wilson drive anything like the Toyota?

Right, much better.

Fixed it to Porsche.

Good one! How tall (or short) is that tuba anyway?

I carry all of my music equipment, whether it be tuba or souzy for a community band gig, double bass and combo amp for a jazz/dance band gig, or my electric basses, amps and extension cabinets all in my Chevrolet Sonic. When my previous vehicle died, I didn't have time to shop; I went to the dealership and asked which model was the successor model that I could pack all my equipment. I'm not sure I even took it for a "test drive." I had gigs, and I needed to get there.

bort wrote:Good one! How tall (or short) is that tuba anyway?

I cant find my tape measure, but I'd say it just barely breaks the 30 inch mark

tofu wrote:His Rambler was introduced in the spring of 1902 and became the world's second mass-produced car, behind Oldsmobile's curved-dash model. His 1900 and 1901 prototypes featured two radical innovations: steering wheels and front-mounted engine.

The Rambler dealer in West Seattle where I grew up had what was reputed to be a very early model Rambler on display in the showroom. It had the curved dash and tiller of the Olds. The dealership is long closed and I was only about 10 years old when I saw it so I'm not sure my recollections are reliable. I can't remember if it did or didn't have a year listed on the plaque next to it in the showroom.

Jeff "I've always liked cars, especially Ramblers and Studebakers" Benedict

Martin= Packard. Even their dates of manufacture are similar!

Hearing other Rambler stories brought to mind that back in the day our family had a 1962 Rambler American wagon. For some reason I remember that when my dad would accelerate, the vacuum windshield wipers would stall out in the middle of the windshield

Tampaworth wrote:Hearing other Rambler stories brought to mind that back in the day our family had a 1962 Rambler American wagon. For some reason I remember that when my dad would accelerate, the vacuum windshield wipers would stall out in the middle of the windshield

Oh. yeah... My buddy's Mother had a little red Rambler sedan and, when the rain started coming down hard like it does up here in Washington, Tyler was dispatched to "rev up" the wipers because there was a vacuum leak in the system. Once they got up to speed, they stayed pretty much at that speed but couldn't get over that hump.... Not sure if it had a crack in the head or block or just a leaky gasket but Mrs. Beck kept a gallon jug of water in the car and, when the temperature got a little too high, Tyler was dispatched to top off the radiator.

ObTubeNet: Mrs. Beck used the Rambler to bring us home from summer band lessons.