Miraphone 186 CC first made?

tubajon · Post by **tubajon** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:36 pm

When was this model first produced? In less than 3 pages, can anyone give a synopsis of background, methods, history on the main tuba producers in Germany and Czechoslovakia? Miraphone, Meinl Weston, Rudy, Alex, B and S, Cerveny. Or if this is too broad, does anyone have any recommendations of books that would explain some of the relationships these makers have with each other and the international community?

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:41 pm

Sounds like a term paper

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:48 pm

Google is your friend.

Have fun with the assignment.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:54 pm

Sounds like somone's pledging...

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 1:35 pm

Lessee.... Dere wur dees guyz dat usta have dere own factrees and after Da War dey got together and started dere own factree called Mirafone (or Miraphone). Dey had been tot lots o' good stuff by old guyz who had been makin' dee instirmeents fer a long time. Den, dey made lots o' good instirmeents dat dey figgured out demselfs an' stuff an' lots o' peepoles bot dere crap an' dey got famous. Da TNFJ told all dee high school kidz to get dee 186, practice dee notez an' shut up. Or, ask der teecher.

Translate dat n' fill in da blanks wit' citations an' facts an' words an' stuff, youse gots it fer da mos' part.

You're welcome.

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 2:33 pm

Hi-
From the Miraphone website:

History

The center of musical instrument making and repairing began in Graslitz, Northern Czechoslovakia. The second World War caused many people in this area to be expelled from their homes. In the year 1946, 13 of these instrument repairman from Graslitz found themselves in Waldkraiburg possessing no more than their expert knowledge and a few tools.

In 1947, these instrument repairmen decided that they wanted more than to just perform minor repairs and restorations. They wanted to design and build their own instruments as a reflection of their knowledge and hard work. The brand name „Miraphone“ was born: „Mira-“ meaning ‘to reflect’, and “-phone” meaning ‘a sound transmitting device’.

In the following years, worldwide demand for high-quality brass instruments grew immensely. Requests for Miraphone, in particular from the United States, caused the Miraphone company to be world famous in a very short time. Such tuba legends as Roger Bobo and R. Winston Morris worked to further Miraphone’s popularity. The double triangle logo was adopted with Miraphone spelled as Mirafone…a spelling believed to be closer to modern U.S. English. The second triangle and the “f” spelling have since been dropped, as the sound need only have one name…and that sound is Miraphone.

It soon became evident that more space was needed in order to have production, raw materials, and the development department with computer technology support all in one place. The close interaction and coordination of all of these elements is crucial to efficient planning of production activities. So, in 1983, Miraphone moved to the building that is now it's current home.

Mark

PS. I may be able to provide some history of the 186 in the near future...

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 3:20 pm

Yeah. Just like I said.

tubajon · Post by **tubajon** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:47 pm

Nice. Very entertaining, too.

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:43 am

Hi-
I contacted Miraphone a few weeks back asking when the first 186-or now-86 was made? Also was it first in BBb or CC? Finally inquired when the 184/185 or 84/85 were first made?

Here is their response. Very interesting...FYI...Mark

Dear Mark,

sorry that it took so long. I researched in old documents, which are - unfortunately - not very comprehensive. The oldest catalogue we have is dated 1950 and it already lists the model 84, 85 and 86, all in BBb- as well as in CC-tuning. We do not know, which one was really designed first. Probably the 86. Astonishing is the number of models after only a few years. So we suppose that the instruments were based on existing models, which the founders brought from their old companies in Graslitz. Export to the USA started approx. in the mid 1950´s.

I am sorry that I cannot give you more information, after I have kept you waiting for quite a long time.

Best regards,
Eva

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:21 am

From Miraphone's 1950 catalog--courtesy of Miraphone....FYI..mark

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cog2br8ixgud2 ... 0.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:00 pm

tubajon wrote:When was this model first produced? In less than 3 pages, can anyone give a synopsis of background, methods, history on the main tuba producers in Germany and Czechoslovakia? Miraphone, Meinl Weston, Rudy, Alex, B and S, Cerveny. Or if this is too broad, does anyone have any recommendations of books that would explain some of the relationships these makers have with each other and the international community?

Start with Bevan for a broader perspective. And then go to their websites.

You've already read about Miraphone.

Cerveny was the first of the Graslitz companies that still exists today, starting in 1842, in Hradec Kralove, 60 miles east of Prague, and has the clearest connection to its origins, despite having been absorbed by the Communist state-owned enterprise Amati in the early 50's.

Wenzel Meinl was formed in 1947 by Anton Meinl, but he was taking on the tradition of many prior generations. Like Miraphone, the Meinls were displaced by war and started up in the western Germany city of Geretsried.

Rudolf Meinl Sr. (no relation to Anton Meinl) was also a refugee from war, started his company about the same time, in Diespeck, where his son continues to run the business.

B&S is just like Miraphone--a conglomeration of local craftspeople brought together under one company--but in this case the company was the Communist state-owned enterprise under the East German regime. The full name of the company was VEB Blechblas und Signalinstrumentenfabrik (The People's Brass and Signal Instrument Factory), and the conglomeration was forced rather than cooperative. After unification, Gerhard Meinl had created VMI and soon after bought B&S add to TA-Musik (later JA-Musik) holding.

Gebr. Alexander is much older than the companies rooted around Graslitz, having been founded much further west, near Frankfurt, in Mainz, in the 1700's. They are still there in the location they moved to in 1909, though the workshop was rebuilt after being destroyed during WWII.

Hirsbrunner is about as old, also without the Graslitz connection, and shifted to brass instruments in Sumiswalk Switzerland about the time of the French Revolution.

Rick "a matter of which side of the line one was on when the line was drawn" Denney

tubajon · Post by **tubajon** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 7:16 pm

Thanks you guys!

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:04 am

Hi-
Since the Miraphone 1950 catalog lists the Miraphone Eb, CC, & BBb tubas--183/184/185/186, 190 or 83/84/85/86/90, I inquired to Miraphone about the 180 or 80 F tuba. Here is their response:
FYI-Mark

'Hello Mark,

also the F-80 is listed in the 1950 catalogue, but, unfortunately, without picture.

Best regards,
Eva'

TubeNet

Miraphone 186 CC first made?

Miraphone 186 CC first made?

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