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I'm trying to figure out when B&S Stopped putting the little blue emblem on their tuning slides, is this a good way of determining a horns age? Or is there still modern horns with that slide as an option? (not that I've seen any newer horns with it)
Also is there any significance to it? Like the mark of a particular group of makers or the GDR? Always thought it was pretty cool so I'm wondering what happended to it.

Pre-reunification?

My B&S was from 2000, no badge. The PT3 that I used in college was from the mid 80s and had a badge.

bort wrote:Pre-reunification?

That's what I suspect but I haven't been able to find a year that they went away or stopped being used.

The PT5 I bought new in 1990 had the blue badge. My 1983 PT10 obviously has one too.

Tom Gregory wrote:The PT5 I bought new in 1990 had the blue badge. My 1983 PT10 obviously has one too.

So I'm guessing early 90s and back is when they were put on, thanks!

Hello EMC,

the blue oval badge was produced from around 1970(approximately) until 1989 after which the factory dropped it(modernization). Some tubas made in 89' were sold later in 90-91 hence still carrying their older blue badge.

For dating a B&S tuba, the serial number is the most accurate method, while the bracing design will get you in the right decade.

Installing a badge on the tuning slide brace was a common design for many GDR instrument makers especially in Markneukirchen. Some of them still use it, such as tuba maker HSM in Markneukirchen.
https://www.hsm-brass.de/

Easter Greetings from Berlin,
TheBerlinerTuba

Does anyone have one or two of these for sale, by the way?

TheBerlinerTuba wrote:Hello EMC,

the blue oval badge was produced from around 1970(approximately) until 1989 after which the factory dropped it(modernization). Some tubas made in 89' were sold later in 90-91 hence still carrying their older blue badge.

For dating a B&S tuba, the serial number is the most accurate method, while the bracing design will get you in the right decade.

Installing a badge on the tuning slide brace was a common design for many GDR instrument makers especially in Markneukirchen. Some of them still use it, such as tuba maker HSM in Markneukirchen.
https://www.hsm-brass.de/

Easter Greetings from Berlin,
TheBerlinerTuba

Thank you so much ! It's very useful to get a confirmation of some of my thoughts and suspicions. You always come through with these things Berliner, youre awesome!

How have I never heard of HSM before? Nice looking stuff!

bort wrote:How have I never heard of HSM before? Nice looking stuff!

Thats what im saying, Love the pearl looking finger pads on the f tuba.