Compensating EEb 4th valve conversion to rotory

[rodgeman]

A few days ago this popped up on my facebook feed for a Tuba/Euphonium group.

Here is the link:
http://m-j-c.co.uk/customising/index.html

"The MJC 4th valve conversions came about, almost by accident.
We were approached by a player who was having physical difficulties. The doctors had told him to stop playing.
Not being a large fellow, the stretch round a standard, compensating EEb was causing the nerves in his shoulder muscles to detach from the muscles!
We came up with a plan: replacing the standard 4th valve with a rotor, so the lever could be much closer to the player, and alleviate the stretching.
What we didn't expect, was that this completely opened up the traditionally stuffy 4th valve register! The 'kickback' commonly experienced with the 4th valve register is all but non-existent, allowing truer intonation and truer colour to the sound.
Result: A compensating instrument that is as open as a non-compensating instrumen"

Click on the 4th valve conversion link if it does not come up. I do not have a compensating tuba. I just found it interesting.