Older St. Petersburg model numbers

[BassTBone]

I'm looking at some older St. Petersburg BBb horns on line that seem identical to the current 202 series but have model numbers like "132" and just "N". They look the same as the 202s and have listed specs that are identical as well. Does anyone have experience with these older horns? The 132 was evidently purchased new in 2000 and the others don't look too old either.

[Dan Schultz]

The 201 and 202 are essentially the same except for one leadpipe being raised and some linkage changes. N means nickel plated. I don't have a clue what 132 is but that sounds like a sequencial build number on the valve section.

[BassTBone]

Thanks Dan. On the "N" horn, it actually just says "Model N" on the bell under the logo where every other nickel St. Pete I've seen says "Model 202n" The "132" designation on the other horn turned out to be exactly as you suggested - a build number on the valve section. But on that horn there seems to be no model number at all on the bell. There's just a logo that doesn't look anything like the present st pete logos. Here's the ebay links for reference.

The "N" horn

http://www.ebay.com/itm/282265361086?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT" target="_blank

The "132" horn

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182359433320?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT" target="_blank

[Dan Schultz]

Thanks Dan. On the "N" horn, it actually just says "Model N" on the bell under the logo where every other nickel St. Pete I've seen says "Model 202n" The "132" designation on the other horn turned out to be exactly as you suggested - a build number on the valve section. But on that horn there seems to be no model number at all on the bell. There's just a logo that doesn't look anything like the present st pete logos. Here's the ebay links for reference.

The "N" horn

http://www.ebay.com/itm/282265361086?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT" target="_blank" target="_blank

The "132" horn

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182359433320?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT" target="_blank"
target="_blank

Yes... I saw both of those listings. For all practical purposed they are the same horn. The basic horn doesn't seem to have changed in appearance in the last several decades. However... the quality of the machine work on the rotors and linkage has improved quite a bit since The Tuba Exchange forced the Russians to clean up their act. I had one here a while back that had the old style 'lyre' logo on the bell and the rotors all had to be replaced because they were either worn so badly or just came bad from the factory. That one also had VERY bad cast aluminum stop plates.

I've owned and played several St Pete tubas and I think they are good horns for the money. The Tuba Exchange can help with parts.

[BassTBone]

Thanks Dan. I was in contact with the seller (who by the way is really trying to do the right thing) and the guys at The Tuba Exchange about the one with the old school lyre logo. Larry at the Tuba Exchange echoed your concerns about the rotors. According to the seller, two of the rotors are definitely frozen so I'm going to pass on that for a candidate for a playable horn.

[Dan Schultz]

Thanks Dan. I was in contact with the seller (who by the way is really trying to do the right thing) and the guys at The Tuba Exchange about the one with the old school lyre logo. Larry at the Tuba Exchange echoed your concerns about the rotors. According to the seller, two of the rotors are definitely frozen so I'm going to pass on that for a candidate for a playable horn.

On the plus side... if you can pick the horn up for cheap... those rotors are pretty reasonable brand new. I had a very old raw brass one a while back and bought FIVE new rotors for it and actually came out pretty good reselling it.