Keefer Sousaphone

[humBell]

https://ebay.com/itm/143295188917



Whatcha think?

[Kirley]

It looks beautiful.
But the location of the bell engraving is really strange. Like the bell flare was clocked over when assembled.
Are these horns related to Yorks?

[humBell]

Does look Yorkish, doesn't it?

I think i have seen 40s Keefer Eb sousaphone that at least to my dubious memory wasn' dissimilar.

It had a much larger bell than i felt it should, and it had the loop in the 3rd valve circuit, which seems very unusual for Eb

[bigtubby]

Looks a _LOT_ like my c1925 York Helicon.

[humBell]

Thanks for posting a picture to compare.

Seems like a very close match.

And as i remember the Eb, it still had the Keefer style leadpipe, just needing something akin to long bits. Rather than a goose neck.

If we care, we can ask seller about marks on valves.

[roweenie]

I think it's likely a stencil, as I don't believe there's any direct connection between the two companies.

The top piston caps, ferrules, and what I can see from the bracing all look like York manufacture to me.

[Paul Scott]

I've seen a catalogue listing one of these things. If I can find the page I'll post it

[roweenie]

As I suspected, a York stencil.

Then again, it is a sousaphone, so there is an outside possibility that the bell alone is Keefer, while the body is most definitely York manufacture.

Paul, did you find that Keefer catalogue?

[Paul Scott]

Yes, I have. They called this a Wagnerphone. If you go to Dave Detwiler's great site you'll find this horn as you scroll down. Based in Williamsport, PA, apparently. Oddly, the ad heralds a bell-up instrument! Made in "Monster and Pony Sizes", (first I've heard of the term "Pony Size"!).

http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2012/12/ ... -conn.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Three Valves]

“Pony Size” is a 7oz bottle of Rolling Rock where I come from!!

[humBell]

Thanks for posting a picture to compare.

Seems like a very close match.

And as i remember the Eb, it still had the Keefer style leadpipe, just needing something akin to long bits. Rather than a goose neck.

If we care, we can ask seller about marks on valves.

I did aak seller about valve markings, but didn't get a response.

And as promised, i dredged up a picture of what believe to be a 40s era Keefer Eb sousa.



Not like older Keefers with the valve block rotated and circuits going up, so they migh have had atencils or contracted out parts? As i said this still has the Older Keefer style leadpupe...

Anyway, more food for discussion.