Stryk wrote:Technically, CSO York 1 would qualify as a Frankentuba, if my memory serves me right. First, the leadpipe was replaced by Lyon & Healy. Then the valve section was replaced by Peter Hirsbrunner. I may be wrong, but I think that is what I have read. Pro with a frankentuba.
I don't know about #1 having its valveset being replaced by Hirsbrunner, but I have my pet theory that both of those horns were built from the get-go with valvesets sourced from outside the York factory.
I've never seen an original 4 valve York tuba (side-action, of course), in a catalog or in the wild, that sports anything but a "sousaphone-style" valve set (diagonal). I've been to the Conn-Selmer plant, and have watched how valvesets are made - it is an INVOLVED process. With that in mind, WHY would JW York go through the extensive effort of engineering, developing, tooling and manufacturing a vertical-style set, only to put it on TWO instruments?
At that time, to my certain knowledge, the only manufacturer who was making valvesets like that (.750 bore/vertical) was Holton, and considering their past history of collaboration, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that York would source them from there.
My $0.02 - I can't prove it, of course, but it sure seems logical.
So, assuming this is true, both of the two Chicago York tubas would be "frankentubas", right from the factory......
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day".