Meinl Weston Model 20? I think.

[Blastissimo]

The bell measures 16 1/4 inches, so I'm "assuming" that this is a model 20, its is an OLD horn, very heavy, yes it's in rough shape, but it was donated to the school by one of our donors. It was part of one of those auctions of OLD storage units. It actually plays very well for it's appearance. The 3d and 4th valve stuck when I got it, fixed those and oiled everything up, still have a 4 valve slide stuck, but the rest work ok, not great but soon.

It's a Meinl Weston divison of Getzen horn, so I'm assuming sold here in the states, there are some numbers stamped in the 4th valve that look factory, I'll try and get them posted, they are too small for me to read. Old eyes.

Plays all the way down to the LOW C# easily, no problems, I'm going to take it to a double brass quintet rehearsal tonight and try it with the group, let you know more after I play it some. I'm using a Perantucci model 50 with it. I took some pictures of it here at school, not great pictures but will give you the idea.

Keith
PS, pictures are all too big, will have to figure something else out.

[Blastissimo]

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Don't know if you can get here but the pictures are up, maybe you can take a peak. Interesting horn.
Keith

[Blastissimo]

PS!!!! As you no doubt can see, the 4 valve BOTTOM rotor cap is missing, does anyone know where I can get one?
Keith

[Blastissimo]

Thanks Bloke, I wondered if it would be hard to find.
I'll keep looking.
Keith

[Art Hovey]

I recently did some work on a very similar tuba. It was pretty banged up and I was surprised with how heavy and tough the brass is. There were dents that I could have banged out on other tubas, but my crude methods were not sufficient for this one.

I did make it playable, and found its intonation is quite good. But the bell rings whenever I play high A. A belt around the mid-stack helps some, but is there a better solution?

[Bob Kolada]

Are MW 30/32 valve caps compatible?

[bigboymusic]

Yep,that is a 20. I LOVE these horns. I sold one about four years ago to a student and regret it every day!!!! Nice warm, centered sound....

[Blastissimo]

Ok, I took it Baum's music our local repair shop, Kayte did a great job on the basics of getting the horn playing well. She found 3 leaks in the horn, mostly someone tried to repair it without cleaning up the old solder, just sort of tried to glop enough solder on it to make it work, well it didn't.

WE got the 3 leaks fixed got the horn a chem clean, she told me that as she started dipping the horn in the chemical bath a spider crawled out the bell, poor guy, had a nice place to stay till then, well that's life. Lots of dirt in the valve section, still NOT happy with the valves, they need to be worked over, they are not smooth, lots of effort required to make them work. I'm sure they have plenty of rust issues in there. We were both surprised that a horn from 1970 B-337, did have any red rot but it was clean. The bell looks horrible, someone tried to roll out the dents and left all the crinkles in the bell, people keep asking me if it's my marching horn. BUT, I don't mind older horns, so it doesn't bother me to play it, needs to be buffed out all over the horn, most of the big dents are gone, it's a work in progress but progressing nicely.

Hope all of you are doing well and having fun out there. I did premier a new tuba solo on it a week ago with a local band, horn did fine. If ANYONE knows of or has an old Model 20 bottom rotary valve cap cover they would like to sell, let me know. The NEW model 25's are too big, I have one, doesn't fit. It's a smaller cap. Perhaps someone has one in a junk box somewhere????
Thanks for your help.

Keith

[Blastissimo]

PS I will take some picture of the new version of the horn, Kayte couldn't stand the dirty word scratched in the bell so she buffed it out, WOW, that one spot looks like BRAND NEW BRASS, I'm thinking buff the whole horn out, wonder if I could do that? Probably need something pretty powerful.

Anyway, pictures to follow soon.
keith

PS, THANK YOU to all of you that sent me the Link for Solo Pomposo and the parts for Band, I played it with 2 bands and have just had a blast playing it. Good to get back to work.

[edsel585960]

Hang in there fixing it up. Those old M/W's were built like tanks and could take a lot of abuse. Good playing horns. Nice to see one back from the dead zone.

[Mark E. Chachich]

It is good to see a MW 20 get a new lease on life, they are very good tubas. I play the CC version (MW 32) as my small tuba and like it very much. I found that I have to play the tuba with a slow and controlled air stream to make it work. When played correctly these tubas are fantastic.

enjoy your new old tuba,
Mark

[Blastissimo]

Thanks to everyone that replied, yes it is indeed a Model 20, 1970 version. It's slowly coming back from the Dead.
Baum's did a great initial job of cleaning it up and getting slides working, etc...it's a neat old horn.

The valves are disappointing at this point, VERY heavy springs, wow it's a workout on my hand just to use the thing, let alone if something sticks. Tim Falling, a great instrument technician and horn player, has the horn as we type. He going into the valves to find out what's going on and what we can do to slick them to playing status. I think a spindle or two may be bent slightly, they work "ok" but not great. He may have to do some surgery, we'll see.

It should be in GREAT shape when I get it back, they will be as good as they can be.

Thanks for you help,
Keith

[Dan Schultz]

You should be able to broaden your search a bit with the knowledge that the Meinl 20 and 25 share the same valve section parts. The model 25 has only a bigger bottom bow and bell.

Have your repairman check with Allied Supply for a rotor back cap.