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Can we make a list of all of the American-made CC tubas that have existed over the years? I'm really only interested in the tubas that were built as CC tubas, and not BBb's that were cut down to CC. (Not that those aren't good tubas, just not the point of this thread).

Here's my list so far, and I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of stuff:

Conn 2J/3J
Conn 52J, 54J, 56J
Conn rotary CC (Geib model)
King Bell model rotary CC
Holton 345 CC (there were a few built at the factory in CC, right?)
York 6/4 (CSO/Jacobs)
York 4/4 CC (basis of the PT-606)
Getzen G50 (as well as the CB-50 and Stofer CC tuba)
Kanstul 902 (3/4)
Kanstul 90 (4/4)
Kanstul 5490 (5/4)

What's missing from this list? I think there was another Conn CC that was the basis for the Rudy Meinl 4345, right?

Was there ever a 6/4 Conn CC?
Was there ever a piston King CC?
Any Martin CC tubas? Buescher?
Other defunct brands?

Thanks!

Lee has some Conn Donato's they look like 5/4 s.
I own a Holton TU330S came from the factory as a CC 4/4.

Right! Both good answers... Will add those to the list. Thanks!

When I played in the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, I used a King 4 piston CC that I don't believe was cut down.

Walter Sear had a huge original Conn C when I was visiting his shop on a regular basis around 1972 Four valve, front action, silver plated and, possibly due to needed repairs, not a good player. But there is a .750 bore four valve front action King factory C here in central Florida that is pretty nice. Sorry I don't have pictures but I think it was formerly owned by Mark Bisontuba Jones. Maybe he'll post one or two. Ed

What about those cut at the factory?

Anyways...
- Buescher: know of one, probably more considering no bow adjustment is necessary
- Conn: small CC that Harvey Philips owned (he had two, not sure if they were the same or similar), 5 rotary CC's (including the Deck/Geib), Donatelli's, CC that Frank Ortega owns/owned (smaller Donatelli?), Lee Stofer had a medium piston CC at a conference a few years ago (think it was a Helleberg), medium CC with pigtail leadpipe (4345/HB2P)
- King: .687" and .750" bore (piston and rotary), at least a couple CC sousaphones
- Holton: Del Negro, CC that Toby Hanks used, 345's
- York: at least 4 varieties of non-6/4 CC's (3 of which are on Rick Denney's website)

I'd add a caveat on the CB50 and G50. While american made they were based on the prototype developed by Bob Rusk based on an EEb bell and bows and a cut down BBb valve body with added 5th valve in the leadpipe to be a CC tuba.

Just my $0.02.
Roger

Thanks everyone!

The Dillon 6/4 CC that Matt Walters used to make. There are a few of them out in the wild.

The Dill on 1185 is a great horn, I got to see one and talk to its owner in length about it

Are we talking 20th C and 21st C USA made tubas in CC?

bisontuba wrote:Are we talking 20th C and 21st C USA made tubas in CC?

Correct, Mark.

BTW, I forgot about the Dillon 6/4 CC.,

^ Wasn't the Dillon 6/4 CC made with Chinese tuba parts?
The Getzen G-50/CB-50 may have been assembled in the US, but with German (Meinl-Weston) tuba parts.
But pretty sure the other listed tubas were assembled in the US with US-fabricated/in-house parts.

I will tell you, I am 100% sure the 1185 is NOT made with Chinese partz

I think there were two King rotary CC tubas... one with a .688" bore (Bill Bell) and another with a .750" bore.

Yes... as Terry Stryker already mentioned... there was a Martin CC that has eluded everyone since the early 7'0's. It was owned by L. B. Oliver and it's shown in Bill Bell's hands in the picture of the 'IU Octet'.

There were two Marzan CC tubas... a piston and a 'slant-rotor' but they were actually made in Germany by Bohm & Meinl.

bloke wrote:

toobagrowl wrote:Wasn't the Dillon 6/4 CC made with Chinese tuba parts?

Having played a couple of them, I would seriously doubt this, and would be very surprised to find out otherwise.

I was under the impression it used PCK bows, MW block, your choice of 5th valve and Matt W's tuba magic. Don't recall where I heard that though, so hopefully someone more informed can chime in.

I seem to remember that the Dillon 6/4 was listed on the Dillon website, and it was abundantly clear that it was 100% made in America. Might be able to find it on the Internet Wayback machine?

I believe there are only 4 (?) 1185''s out there. 2 in silver, 2 in lacquer, the one i saw was the last one in Silver, the owner of the horn built it, it was a piece of art, and after hearing a very prominent player play on it, I have no doubt that it is a very rare and special horn

Bill Troiano is correct. King did make a piston valved CC tuba with .750" valve bore. Mark Jones briefly had one several years ago. I also had a stock 5 valved version that was gold plated. It was made for Fred Geib and used the Sander fingering system with the 4th valve operated by the right hand pinky finger being a downward major 3rd and the fifth valve operated by the left hand a downward perfect fourth. Valves 1, 2, 3 and 4 were front action. The fifth valve was just below valve 4 and stuck out the player's left side of the tuba. This was a GREAT tuba. I got it from Warren Deck. I believe that Mike Lynch now owns this tuba.

Randy, I have never heard of that tuba before, only the Conn Geib rotary tuba.

Do you have a photo of it you could share here (or email to me)?