Name that old tuba!

[Dave Detwiler]

Hi all - I am doing research on Herman Conrad (1867-1920), and have been able to date this photograph of him to 1913 in one of the studios at the Victor Talking Machine Co. But I'm struggling to place the horn seen here. It has four front-action valves, but the forward-facing bell (which is removable) suggests it might be a Conn Wonderphone Bass, as those were being promoted around that time.

In 1912, a year earlier, Conrad had a much larger Holton Mammoth BBb custom made for him (also four valves, front action), and he is seen with that horn again in a Victor photograph from 1916, suggesting that it was perhaps his regular instrument.

But what is this smaller tuba? Any educated guesses out there?

1913 from Victor Talking Machine Co. publication.jpg

[roweenie]

Could you share the picture of H.C. with the Holton?

[Dave Detwiler]

Sure - here it is!

1912 Holton Harmon Hints.jpg

[roweenie]

That is really ! Thanks!

As to that horn, I'm 99.9% certain it's a Conn. I vaguely recall seeing (and playing) one for sale at Dillon Music, probably 15-20 years ago. IIRC, it was in CC (?), and was surprisingly heavy for its size (maybe it was the same horn?) Steve has a phenomenal memory for such things.....it might be worth asking him about it.

[Dave Detwiler]

Last call - anyone out there who can identify the horn in the first photograph? Thanks!

[bisontuba]

Maybe a Conn 48J?
Mark

[Dave Detwiler]

Bingo! - that seems to be a match. However, I noticed that the widest of the tuning slides (is that the main one?) is much longer in the 1913 photograph than it is in the 1926 illustration. What might that suggest?

[Kirley]

Maybe the illustration is of a high pitch model?
Were there HP CCs?

[Frank Ortega]

I think Conn CC tubas from that era were hand made and had some variations
In slide placement and length. I have one with a fixed bell from 1918, and some of the slides were odd. One had a curved crook that made in possible to take the slide out.
The valves were beyond worn, so I've since replaced the original .689 bore valves
With a vintage Conn .734 valve set. Here's a pic with the original valves:

[Dave Detwiler]

It might have been this thread which was unresolved that people remember the picture.

Indeed - since I first included the photo of that horn in a reply to my post that was about a vintage Conn tuba, I thought that reposting it as the "star" of the post, and with Holton in the title, might catch those who know and love Holton tubas! We'll see!