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J. W. Pepper built the first Sousaphone in 1895, but didn't start selling Sousaphones until 1905 - a decade later! And those horns apparently didn't sell very well, even though Pepper made a big deal about them.

Here's what I found out about all this: http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2016/01/ ... nally.html

Pepper advertised Sousaphones for at least a few more years. I have a 1908 catalog showing them, and I have seen at least one 1909 catalog with them.
In any event, I'm sure they were not a high volume item when compared to cornets, trombones and baritone/euphoniums....

Nice research!!

Hey windsheildbug - I would be curious to know what Pepper catalogs you are referring to. I have the 1908 and 1909 editions of "Everything Musical - J. W. Pepper's Complete Catalogue," and there are no Sousaphones listed anywhere in either of those (while they were featured the previous two years). Helicons, yes, but Sousaphones, no - unless I somehow missed them in the fine print! Let me know - thanks!

Once again, great research and wonderful information about the history of our chosen instrument. Thanks, Dave>
Pete

Dave Detwiler wrote:Hey windsheildbug - I would be curious to know what Pepper catalogs you are referring to. I have the 1908 and 1909 editions of "Everything Musical - J. W. Pepper's Complete Catalogue," and there are no Sousaphones listed anywhere in either of those (while they were featured the previous two years). Helicons, yes, but Sousaphones, no - unless I somehow missed them in the fine print! Let me know - thanks!

Dave,

Don't worry, they weren't in the Everything Musical catalogues, but the J.W. Pepper Musical Times & Band Journal (Pepper's answer to Conn's Musical Truth).

I have Vol. XX No. 235, but I've noted them appearing in issues from 1905-1909. My own copy (235) has the same testimonial from Conrad in the BBb Bass Sousaphone version.

The Conn instruments that I've recorded the serial numbers of seem to start around 1908 (with an outlier that has an 1897 valve block), so my guess is that there wasn't much demand before then.

Mike Keller

The main bugle of the Eb raincatcher bears a strong resemblance to my ca. 1918 JWP Eb Helicon but the valve section is different.