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Help with info on my King Tuba?

Posted: Mon May 24, 2021 6:50 pm
by jpoliceman
Hi - new to the community.

I have an older King tuba (by H.N. White) that I've had since high school. Before I got it, it had been professionally cleaned up and re-finished.

Any info on it would be greatly appreciated - I haven't seen a model number on it, but I've got a photo of its serial number and bell engravings.

I'm curious to know its age and model number. It's a great sounding instrument!

Thanks in advance for any help!

:tuba:

Re: Help with info on my King Tuba?

Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 12:29 am
by Easy Mac
According to the serial number list on the Conn-Selmer site it would probably have been made sometime around 1908-1910, but I'm not really sure. However, those valve caps are from that era, so the refinishing job is likely throwing me, here. Also, the engraving is from that period (up through the 1930s, I think). My guess would be 1920-1935, but that serial number is calling me out.

It is not a 1240. I think it predates that model. I am not sure what model this tuba is. I like the one-piece bell. I bet this horn plays nicely. Sorry I cannot be of more help to you.

Someone like Michael Keller will eventually step in here, and he is very knowledgable about this sort of stuff. His screen name is "windshieldbug". Give him a holler via the PM system if he is not in here in a few days.

Re: Help with info on my King Tuba?

Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 8:12 am
by jpoliceman
Thanks so much for the info you did provide - it's greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to learning more about the instrument - when I got it in high school I never had any idea how old it could be.

Re: Help with info on my King Tuba?

Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 10:20 am
by groth
jpoliceman wrote: Tue May 25, 2021 8:12 am Thanks so much for the info you did provide - it's greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to learning more about the instrument - when I got it in high school I never had any idea how old it could be.
I sent you a PM. The horn is from 1918-1919. This is the first year horn they changed the engraving to "THE H.N. White Co." Someone refinished it and replaced the leadpipe to the straight through design into the valves and got rid of the old tuning slide "built in" lead pipe it had.

Re: Help with info on my King Tuba?

Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 11:21 am
by windshieldbug
I'd go with Groth.
The serial number sure seems to fit there.
How wide is the bell?