...

[roweenie]

That is very interesting. I wonder what the bore size was of those tubas?

I find it interesting that these older catalogue listings almost *never* mention a numerical bore size. If there was ever any mention, it would be something non-specific, like "large bore", or something like that.

Was information like this less important to our tuba-purchasing predecessors?

(My guess is it's more about "brand loyalty" ["my dad bought nothing but Chevrolets"], and they trusted their brand to give them a bore size comparable to the horn they were purchasing, no questions asked.)

[scottw]

Something I have not seen in Miraphones--actually, any tuba--is the placement of the spit key up the vertical tube. I wonder if it was meant to keep spit from dumping on our lap?

[roweenie]

I've also seen that on some MW rotary valve tubas

[swillafew]

It's for dumping spit while the rest of the group plays and you sit there (assuming the horn is for orchestra). I do this two nights a week now.