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Buescher tuba for auction locally here in Md. Any idea what key, or anything else about you might know? Conn stencil maybe?

Are you sure? Tuning slide lengths look like BBb. The only aspect syaing Eb to me is a somewhat smallish bore, but older non-professional tubas sometimes had those.

Looks like an Eb - main bugle only has a couple loops in it.

Edit: what Kiltie said above.

Here is a Buescher BBb for comparison:

Eb. The couple smaller ones I've played have been tolerable pitch-wise, the big Buescher Eb's are usually pretty funny.

arpthark wrote:

Looks like Conn contributed quite a bit to that tuba, very 36J-ish. Some (not all) of the Buescher 4/4 BBb's had the same one-piece bottom bow/bell stack configuration. Very weird, very cool look.

I agree with Eb being the most likely pitch.

It would be helpful, if the photo best displaying the overall proportions also came in high resolution rather than as a thumbnail.

Klaus

I played the tuba at the auction gallery on the morning of the auction. It is an Eb tuba. It is in GREAT physical shape where dents and lacquer are concerned. The sound was not very resonant, the valves were nothing about which to yell and the intonation was not great. I am an experienced Eb tuba player, so, I feel comfortable commenting on this instrument. It sold for $550.00 with no case, gig bag or mouthpiece.