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Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:04 am
by Mtrhed
Hi everyone,
I've been helping out a friend by playing in my local Salvation Army band. To make things easy I've been using an S/A horn that's kept on-site for practices and performances so I don't have to schlep mine back and forth. The horn is a York "Presence" model (3409 or 3904?). This horn has hardly been played since the center opened more then a decade ago. When putting the horn back in its case tonight I spotted the item in the attached photo in the back of the mouthpiece compartment of the case
image.jpg
I've never seen one of these and neither has anyone in the group I'm playing with. The spacing of the holes is about right to match the stem placement on the three upright valves and there is some kind of spring loaded tab in the middle hole. The thing is capped on both ends and it has a nice silver finish to match the horn so I'd guess this wasn't meant to just lock the valves down for shipping plus the the finger buttons couldn't fit into the holes. Can anyone tell me what this is for?
This is the first time I've tried attchimg a photo here so I hope it works. Thanks for any guidence you may have.

water catcher Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:16 am
by tokuno
You're right about the spacing, but it's for the bottom of the valve casing. It slips over the nubs on the bottom caps to catch drips before they land on you.

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:59 am
by sousaphone68
Its a grime gutter I had one thinking it would help preserve the finish on my tuba.
Two things wrong with it.
1. If the absorbant pad is missing and you place the tuba down on its bell when finished you get a deluge that in my case brown spotted my bell.
2. With the absorbant pad in place it swells to the point were it will seal the bottom of the valve case slowing the valve.

I now use an old tube sock cut down with a cloth stuffed inside.

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:43 am
by Mtrhed
Cool, I'll check the fit at our next practice. I don't think I'll need it though. Odd thing about this horn, In all the time I've played it I've never had a drop of water come out of the horn. I can usually create a puddle the size of Lake Michigan in no time but this horn is dry as a bone. Thank you for the advise.

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:12 am
by Matt Walters
A cheap and readily available cotton product to put int he spit catchers is kerosene Lantern Wick.

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:26 pm
by Wyvern
Just put some adsorbent cotton wood in ends (not under the holes) and that will adsorb the moisture. That is what I use on my Eb tuba and never have any problems with drips, or blocking bottom of valves.

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:18 pm
by dwerden
Not all of these devices have a wick. My own, from Adams, does not, and the ones I have owned (or made) have not. I just need to remember to empty it after my practice or performance.

There is usually a long end and a short end, once you have it in place. The long end should be on the 3rd valve side so if you tip the horn 90 degrees to rest, the long end will catch the water (more capacity that way).

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 11:26 am
by PCPettit
Hello - I've been trying to reply to the messages that you sent me about the Marzan BBb that I am trying to sell, but apparently, they have not gotten through to you. Please contact me at PCPettit@gmail.com" target="_blank. The tuba is still available and does have both a hard case and soft case. I've posted some higher resolution pics on Flickr. But I'll happily email them to you as well.

Thanks much,

Pete Pettit

Re: Found this in my case, what is it?

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 1:00 pm
by Teubonium
dwerden wrote:Not all of these devices have a wick. My own, from Adams, does not, and the ones I have owned (or made) have not. I just need to remember to empty it after my practice or performance.

There is usually a long end and a short end, once you have it in place. The long end should be on the 3rd valve side so if you tip the horn 90 degrees to rest, the long end will catch the water (more capacity that way).
Yes. My Besson 967 came with a grime gutter with NO "tampon" inside. I make a habit of emptying all tuning slide and the grime gutter after practice, rehearsals, and concerts.