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I've created a new web page for my new 'Rudy' 5/4. Please take a look and let me know if you can spot clues about the year the horn was possibly made.

http://thevillagetinker.com/Rudolf%20Meinl%20Tuba.htm

Nice!!!

Early 90's (or late 80's). The USMB had a couple of those - exact same bracing and rod end bearing linkages. Late 80's I believe. Without the fancy bell of course.

It has no 'keel' in the bottom, so it's younger than my 4/4, I think mine is from the 80's.
If the linkages and ball bearings are the original ones from Rudy, then I would guess mid 90's?
The bell garland is optional, you can get it on a brand new tuba if you order it like that....

I have the much newer round section thumb ring on my horn and I think that would be a nice upgrade for your instrument too...

Have a lot of fun with this tuba!

While looking at the pictures, I see that the engraving on the bell is different compared to mine... Someone might be able to estimate the manufacturing date with that.
The 'M' from Meinl is wider on mine and filled with a dashed line, the 'Rudolf' is in capital letters and also wider. I'll try to post a picture later.
Might be a junior vs senior thing...

Congratulations, Dan!

Oldest Rudy engraving I found in my files (instrument with S-links and clockwork springs (no keel however...): the more recent one on my 4/4: remark: although the oldest one is clearly from before the German re-unification, it states 'Made in Germany'...

Awesome!! Congrats! How does it play?

bort wrote:Awesome!! Congrats! How does it play?

The horn plays well. The size of the bore isn't any concern to me since I've been playing of both a Miraphone 1291 and a St. Pete.... which both have bores approaching .840". What's a few more thousanths?

Very, Very NICE!!! Beautiful instrument......