Hey all - looking to help ID a concert horn one of the guys in my band picked up. I can't find a maker's mark on the thing anywhere -- apparently he found her up at some small-town antique shop in the Sierras. Any guesses? Thank you!
Horn ID?
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Horn ID?
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Re: Horn ID?
Although there seems to be no engraving on the bell - signs point to it being a Cerveny. I owned one of these years ago - bought it in 1968 from Walter Sear. Those horns were engraved strangely as Walter E Sear with middle initial rather outsized compared to the first and last names. Those horns were later sold under different names - "Zeiss" comes to mind. The leadpipe, valve hardware and ferrules, braces , etc. are identical to the one I owned. I might have a photo of mine around here somewhere - but I dunno how to upload here.
The horn is Czech; the "rudder" on the bottom is a fooler so it looks like an Alex.
The playing characteristics - pretty in tune to itself, and nice warm sound. The large bows and bell are thin, and annealed so soft that it "breaks up" when pushed to a full fff. Although fragile I've always thought the Czech tubas had the nicest sound of any of the Continental instruments.
Later versions (1969 onward) had wire spring valves which were an improvement (I had Giardinelli convert mine). The little brass bolts that secure the bump stops on the rotor shafts should be tightened with just your fingernail - the shaft is pitifully thin and soft and even a jeweler's screw driver will snap 'em off. Getting the shaft out is a nasty job. I know this because of course I broke one off... The little blue bolts on the "S" levers wear and start clanking; this setup is why guys started using model airplane ball-and-socket parts to quiet things down.
The horn is Czech; the "rudder" on the bottom is a fooler so it looks like an Alex.
The playing characteristics - pretty in tune to itself, and nice warm sound. The large bows and bell are thin, and annealed so soft that it "breaks up" when pushed to a full fff. Although fragile I've always thought the Czech tubas had the nicest sound of any of the Continental instruments.
Later versions (1969 onward) had wire spring valves which were an improvement (I had Giardinelli convert mine). The little brass bolts that secure the bump stops on the rotor shafts should be tightened with just your fingernail - the shaft is pitifully thin and soft and even a jeweler's screw driver will snap 'em off. Getting the shaft out is a nasty job. I know this because of course I broke one off... The little blue bolts on the "S" levers wear and start clanking; this setup is why guys started using model airplane ball-and-socket parts to quiet things down.
Mark Heter
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
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Re: Horn ID?
Here's the horn - with the modified valve paddles from 1972.
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Mark Heter
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
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Re: Horn ID?
Fascinating tuba forensics. Thank you guys. Where was the engraving of the Walter Sear mark on your horn, Mark?
-Isaac
-Isaac
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Re: Horn ID?
The engraving was on the front of the bell stalk about four inches above the leadpipe.
Other "improvements" - I had Bob Giardinelli raise the mouthpiece receiver/leadpipe to accommodate my height, and I had an extended pull ring soldered on the third valve tubing to I could pull it - although not very frequently. The work was done after Ozark Airlines damaged the horn on a road trip with the Your Father's Mustache band. That's a LONG time ago!
Don Butterfield took it into a show at Radio City to see what it could do after these modifications and came to same conclusions I did about the playing characteristics - nice, light and delicate horn that couldn't deliver at high volumes of sound.
I sold it to former student who had just finished a hitch in the Marines (bugle corps and a post band) after I started playing Kings and my Martin. The last time I saw it (33 years ago) it had fallen into total disrepair. That guy now owns a railroad in NJ...
Mark Heter
Other "improvements" - I had Bob Giardinelli raise the mouthpiece receiver/leadpipe to accommodate my height, and I had an extended pull ring soldered on the third valve tubing to I could pull it - although not very frequently. The work was done after Ozark Airlines damaged the horn on a road trip with the Your Father's Mustache band. That's a LONG time ago!
Don Butterfield took it into a show at Radio City to see what it could do after these modifications and came to same conclusions I did about the playing characteristics - nice, light and delicate horn that couldn't deliver at high volumes of sound.
I sold it to former student who had just finished a hitch in the Marines (bugle corps and a post band) after I started playing Kings and my Martin. The last time I saw it (33 years ago) it had fallen into total disrepair. That guy now owns a railroad in NJ...
Mark Heter
Mark Heter
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
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Re: Horn ID?
Well, I'm sure the Martin more than helped compensate for the "high volumes of sound" you were lookin' for
I just got a Martin BAT of my own and I'm in love.
Thanks again for all the context!
-Isaac

Thanks again for all the context!
-Isaac
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Re: Horn ID?
Is that a chain of causality:
Tuba falls in disrepair => owner gets a railroad?
Klaus
Tuba falls in disrepair => owner gets a railroad?
Klaus
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Re: Horn ID?
His name is Jim Wilson, and yes, while it makes no sense that's what happened to that horn and its last owner. Walter Sear pushed these Cervenys out the door for $550. Walter also sold his Helleberg mouthpieces for $6 when I was in high school; in the 1990s the price had "ballooned" to $12 each! He always tried to keep a playable horn and mouthpiece within reach of a student's resources. Several guys made a living playing his tubas for years - Bob Stewart, Howard Johnson and Fred Zwicker come to mind.
I have never lacked for a core of sound with the Martin; I used it for just about everything - Ringling Bros., recording dates, concert bands, and after I got the upright bell from Lee Stofer (actually with the bell front too) I used it in a symphony orchestra. No 4th valve necessary either. I used it at Disney once in a while, but most of those gigs required mobility - and a sousaphone. Some contractors have specifically asked that I "bring that Martin" on the job. That's fine with me; it's the easiest playing horn I've ever owned.
I do like my "new" King 2341 - it's one of the first of the current design and has had to be "updated" (longer ferrules made a huge difference in tuning) - but it is my "grab and go" horn these days. On the summer concert band dates I work alone - budgets - and out comes the Martin. I have no problem balancing the tuba part against 5 trumpets, 2 horns, four trombones and sea of woodwinds. John Palatucci is usually my side partner on euphonium and the two of us carry the day.
Mark Heter
I have never lacked for a core of sound with the Martin; I used it for just about everything - Ringling Bros., recording dates, concert bands, and after I got the upright bell from Lee Stofer (actually with the bell front too) I used it in a symphony orchestra. No 4th valve necessary either. I used it at Disney once in a while, but most of those gigs required mobility - and a sousaphone. Some contractors have specifically asked that I "bring that Martin" on the job. That's fine with me; it's the easiest playing horn I've ever owned.
I do like my "new" King 2341 - it's one of the first of the current design and has had to be "updated" (longer ferrules made a huge difference in tuning) - but it is my "grab and go" horn these days. On the summer concert band dates I work alone - budgets - and out comes the Martin. I have no problem balancing the tuba part against 5 trumpets, 2 horns, four trombones and sea of woodwinds. John Palatucci is usually my side partner on euphonium and the two of us carry the day.
Mark Heter
Mark Heter
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.
1926 Martin Handcraft 3v upright bell front action ; 1933 Martin Handcraft 3v bellfront; King 2341 (old style); King top-action 3v; Bach (King) fiberglass sousaphone.