Interesting!

[Dan Schultz]

I've not seen paddles and springs like this on a Miraphone before. Rather than having torsion springs on the levers, this one appears to have extension springs with ball ends pulling the levers back. The paddles are also odd as well as the hardware on top of the rotor spindles. Anyone ever see one built like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIRAFONE-186-CC-TUB ... 3cb9626cfc

[bort]

I've seen a 188 like that once, I think they called that the direct valve system or something? Each valve is separately adjustable...? I don't think they made them like that for long, and not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

But for only $1,800, certainly worth a go!

[bort]

D'oh! Presto, that's it!

[SousaSaver]

I have worked on one before. I had a BEAUTIFUL 188 5U-CC in rose brass in my shop some months ago that had this paddle set up on it. It was really cool!. There are tension screws under the paddles that let you adjust the lever tension. The covers over the stop arms are only cosmetic. The curved metal side is held down by the stop arm plate and the round circle on top is retained by the stop arm screw and spins with the rotor. It is pretty neat. Also, note that this particular set up also has a unique engraving around the Miraphone logo. A triangle. The 188 I had in my shop also had this.

[Bob Kolada]

My Army band has a few 187's like that. They're smooth enough but it seems like there's more potential for noise.

[Bob Kolada]

It wasn't even the gadgets (though I agree) on the one I played- that cylinder at the top of the valve had gotten dented so the rod was contacting it, making a delightfully little "ding" every time.

[bort]

Agh! Hope you didn't sell it just for that! Getting a new linkage would have been well worth the cost!

[bort]

It was an Air Force horn. They ended up buying me another horn but they sent the 188 to auction. I tried to buy it but a local middle school got it for around $1500. I shudder to think what happened to it.

Yikes, that makes me shudder too... I own a gold brass 188 now, which was also an Air Force horn. Best 188 I've ever played, and I think it'll never leave my hands. But good grief... *middle* school??

[Brown Mule]

I know...from what I remember, schools and prisons had first crack at anything on the auction. It wasn't just instruments but anything the military base was getting rid of...desks, computers, etc. I spoke to a couple of the area high school band directors who were not interested in the horn because it was a CC. I had a friend who new the guy that was in charge of the auction so I thought I was definitely going to get it. I had no idea a middle school band director would think of bidding on it. I would have been disappointed if I had lost in a bidding war with another player but to have such a great horn go to a middle school...that was heartbreaking.

Hmmmm-----------Maybe said tuba ended up somehow in middle-school band directors personal stable

[Tom]

I had a Presto valved 186 BBb when I was in high school. It was a really nice instrument and I actually really liked the paddles and linkage system. My teacher at the time had a Presto valved 188. I liked it so much that I would probably seek out a Presto valved horn if I was shopping for a Miraphone (proabably a 188), but I don't see that happening any time soon.