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Well here is something I have never seen before: a Martin rotary. I believe this is an Eb, but not certain. It looks like it could possibly make a decent F tuba, since it has a tuning slide in the leadpipe and another after. Has anyone ever played a Martin rotary?

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipP ... U1IbHIQsXN" target="_blank" target="_blank

Upon closer review, I have determined this is not a tuba but a euphonium.

Upon closer review of the picture, this is actually a euphonium. Has anyone played a Martin euphonium, or know if Martin made rotary tubas?

Martin had the option to order their horns with rotary valves instead of pistons, but because it wasn't a predominately advertised option and because of the popularity of pistons in the US market at the time, few were made. The valves weren't (as far as I know) made by Martin and were likely imported by a European Manufacturer and put on existing Martin-made bugles. I've never seen a Martin rotary euphonium (the link doesn't work for me) but I;m sure it was an option if someone asked them to build one.

Here are the following Martin rotary examples I've seen:

4V Medium Eb
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32776&start=84" target="_blank" target="_blank

4V Medium CC
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30808&hilit=Jay+mca ... 12#p269577" target="_blank" target="_blank

4V Slant-rotor Medium CC
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62006" target="_blank" target="_blank

4V Mammoth CC
(this example has a MW valve cluster added, but apparently had a Martin cluster)
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=67705" target="_blank" target="_blank

4V Medium BBb
https://reverb.com/item/10569885-martin-band-tuba-1919" target="_blank" target="_blank

3V Mammoth BBb
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=65119" target="_blank" target="_blank

4V Top-action Mammoth BBb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5my_gUYPN8" target="_blank" target="_blank

I actually own the Jay McAllister Martin CC that is referenced above. It is a wonderful instrument that I believe has been misrepresented previously here on tubenet.

At some point in it's history somebody tried to "repair" the bell to bottom bow connection by applying a coat of shellac. This of course did not seal the bottom bow and had a less-than-desirable effect on the intonation. This tuba has since been repaired properly, and intonation is not a problem.

Also, this tuba is definitely a 6/4 instrument. It is every bit as large as my front action 3 valve Martin 6/4 BBb tuba.

I have also played the Agnew CC Martin. That was a very fine playing instrument as well. Although, it does not have the original valve set. It's valve set is a larger bore than the Jay McAllister.

I hope this helps.

tubaeric wrote:I actually own the Jay McAllister Martin CC that is referenced above. It is a wonderful instrument that I believe has been misrepresented previously here on tubenet.

At some point in it's history somebody tried to "repair" the bell to bottom bow connection by applying a coat of shellac. This of course did not seal the bottom bow and had a less-than-desirable effect on the intonation. This tuba has since been repaired properly, and intonation is not a problem.

Also, this tuba is definitely a 6/4 instrument. It is every bit as large as my front action 3 valve Martin 6/4 BBb tuba.

I have also played the Agnew CC Martin. That was a very fine playing instrument as well. Although, it does not have the original valve set. It's valve set is a larger bore than the Jay McAllister.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for clarifying. I guess the short bell stack makes it look deceptively small, but now that you mention it, the size of the bows do look consistent with mammoths. Looks like a wicked cool horn.
Also i'm SUPER jealous that you're blessed to have two of these beasts! A front action mammoth has been on my list ever since I first played a mammoth. I love the sound of mine, but I've never liked the ergonomics of top action valves. Congrats!

Martin did indeed make a rotary baritone. One is pictured in an early (ca. 1916), catalogue.

Here's a link to where I way the Martin rotary euphonium
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/77271921" target="_blank

Gus_Pratt wrote:Here's a link to where I way the Martin rotary euphonium
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/77271921" target="_blank" target="_blank

That's wild!

bort wrote:

Gus_Pratt wrote:Here's a link to where I way the Martin rotary euphonium
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/77271921" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

That's wild!

That's only about 90 minutes away from me. Interesting.... you don't see too many unique low brass instruments show up here in Nebraska.