What key is it?

[Lew]

This looks too small to be a BBb, but too large to be a baritone. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-HELICON-TUB ... dZViewItem

[Dan Schultz]

There's a lot more tubing there than is apparent with just a quick glance. There's almost a triple-wrap around the valve section and the 2nd slide looks like it might well be long enough for a BBb horn. That's my vote.

There's an off-the-wall shot that it might be an Eb or F... but since it's European/Italian I'll go with F as a second choice.

[windshieldbug]

A BBb. Look at the 2nd valve length compared to this Pan-Am BBb:



I think its just the length of the tubing BEFORE the entry into the valves that deceiving: first the mouthpiece receiver, then wind around PAST the valves, then the tuning slide, then back up to the valves (whew!). On the way out of the valve at the top, a whole 'nother loop AROUND the valves to the bell tube. Your eye is used to seeing that much tubing on a FOUR valve horn, but not a three... (remember: the third valve goes UP here!)

[Dan Schultz]

A BBb. Look at the 2nd valve length compared to this Pan-Am BBb:

Yeah.... what he said.

[tubaguy9]

I think that the thing that throws things off on this helicon, is the fact that it goes back near the valves rather than wraping around the instrument. That's what I find confusing.