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I bounced on this ad from an Italian site: https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ ... 06544.html" target="_blank

At that price I expected I quite cheap tuba but the picture shows the Miraphone logo. The ad says it has no problems, but that sounds strange.

Do you think it may be worth to go see it? Thanks

There is a Miraphone logo on the bell but I don't think the body is a Miraphone.

I don’t think that I’ve ever seen clockspring rotaries on a Miraphone...

It looks like an old Miraphone, I guess from the 70s. You can find those quite often here in Germany. The engraving didn't change for decades, so it not really a help for getting a year of manufacturing. The Mirafone name was used for export instruments, domestic version were named Miraphone, but I don't know if they still do this. Deusser in Wuerzburg is a well established dealer, which at some times also sold stencil instruments under his own name, so the suffix "Instr Bau" (= instrument maker) This one of them actually for sale

Thanks for the opinions! So maybe it may worth a try for that price? The place is not so far from where I live, I'd have a chance to try it.

Don't EVER say "ever"...

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In the 9 Horn-u-copia Miraphone tuba pictures, 2 of the 6 rotary valve sets are clocksprings, unfortunately without dates.

I don't believe that bell came with that body originally - I suspect someone put it on much later in the life of both instruments.

In Germany the clocksprings were popular for amateur instruments up to late 70s, and most of them still in the old-fashioned (but good-working) Bohland&Fuchs style. And often with only three valves. Actually there are at least ten Miraphones of this type up for sale, so I think the Italian one is original.

Mark Finley wrote:I've heard that miraphone actually is the original spelling and not "mirafone" like I remember from when I was a kid.

The reason for the "Mirafone" spelling for the USA market is shrouded in '70's marketing and trademark issues, as discussed in other threads.

I have a Mirafone 186 BBb, serial below 2000; a list puts the date at 1952.

My horn has S-type linkage, one long of coil of springs ( not clock type ).

The style of the braces, the S-links, valve caps, and the mountain-and-sunrise logo are identical to
mine. For that matter, my friend's 1970's 186 is also almost identical. Except the linkage and a bit more nickel, brand new ones haven't changed much.

My guess is its a real Mira, just a little older than mine, or maybe some of them came with clock-spring options.

John Thompson