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I am currently borrowing a "Master Art" BBb tuba from my repairman.
It has three upright pistons, stands about 36 in high, has a 20in wide bell, and compares in size overall quite closely with the larger Marzan BB-flat (see pics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/165581760 ... 8791482196).
The bore as near as I can measure with my amateur measuring equipment appears to be either .687" or .719".
The engraving on the bell reads MasterArt Elkhart USA.
By its general appearance, I assumed it was a Conn stencil and looked up the serial number, which placed it at 1915.
after trying to look up a little more information on MasterArt tubas, now I'm not so sure. It appears maybe Buescher made this, or one of their offshoots or who knows? What say you, TNFJ?

Grand Rapids Band Instrument maybe?

Looks like a Conn stencil. That means a student line Pan American with whatever name you want engraved on it as long as you will pay for it. And some people thought stenciled horns were just a Chinese thing.

Thanks for your input guys.
It's a fun and interesting horn regardless of who made it.
It's the oldest horn I've ever played, at a hundred years plus.

The Conn/PanAm theory seems to match the appearance and s/n more than anything else.

-Eric L.

Oh yeah, that's Conn in origin.