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Does anyone have an inkling as to what brand of sousaphone this might be under all of that white paint? Is it a full-circle Eb?

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Just to be a little contrary ... I put my 25¢ on BBb, and Not Buescher. Some Buescher valve sets have a little of that look, but as best as I can make out this is really quite different. We're looking for something with a whole mess of tubing on the side towards your chin, which is the opposite of how Bueschers roll, and a really weird valve-3 wrap.

Here's a "Keyser" with that general configuration. They also turn up, on horn-u-copia, under "Wurlitzer", "Toneking" and "Olympian". No identical matches - they're all skinnier, 1st valve tubing is always the usual side-by-side where this is top-and-bottom. But they're suspiciously similar, and I bet whoever made those things, made this one. I would guess in Europe - don't know these outfits, but I have a vague idea Toneking is German, related to Keilwerth.

I’m with Donn.
Small bore BBb. Lead pipe heading backwards (trumpet style) through the valves.
Weird German style.
Could be fun!

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Thanks Everyone for weighing in. I really appreciate it. There's a fellow in our community band that has been looking for a sousaphone in his price range for a while. At our Saturday rehearsal my opening remark to him was; "I think I found a sousaphone for you. Do you have any paint thinner?"

Paint STRIPPER is what you want and there is a good chance that once you do the outside of the bell flare and the valve casings you will find what make it is. Have fun!

Updates with more information: I played this sousaphone a couple of weeks ago, and it is indeed a Bb instrument. In tune, and easy to play. The new owner has stripped the sousa of its paint and has uncovered the serial number, plus a small bit of engraving that says; "Made In England". The Bell is 24", bell receiver is 5 1/2" and the neck receiver is .0685". Would this have been made by Besson, or are there clues as to which maker in the UK could have manufactured this instrument?

bloke wrote:Is "England" on one of the valve casings, or is it somewhere on the instrument's body?

I believe he said it was engraved on the instrument's body.

I am also thinking Besson, or one of the ancestor companies that all merged together at one point. If that is the case, the serial number, the valve cap fluting and the "England" engraving point to possibly Boosey 1925-30.

iiipopes wrote:I am also thinking Besson, or one of the ancestor companies that all merged together at one point. If that is the case, the serial number, the valve cap fluting and the "England" engraving point to possibly Boosey 1925-30.

Thanks! I'll pass the information along.