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I saw this Henry Distin Helicon listed on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-1800S-TUBA- ... dZViewItem

When I wrote the the seller he told me that the bell is 29" in diameter. I guess that makes this a Big A** Helicon. In any case, he wrote back to me and said that he had a few offers to buy it out and offered to sell it to me for $800, so I said yes. I know I probably paid more than it's worth, but I couldn't resist. I can post some better photos if anyone is interested once I get it.

This is the first HELICON of that period that I've seen what appears to be a removale bell (sounds like you'll need it with a 23" bell!). A raincatcher sousaphone would also have this type of bell collar. More modern sousaphones make the 90 degree upward knuckle first.

Careful of that low pitch tuning slide when you put the horn on/take it off!

According to the serial number, it was made in the first 2 years of the relocation to Williamsport, PA, after Brua Keefer took over the company, but it was still called the "Henry Distin Mfg Co" then.

Looks like a formidable horn to me!

This Carl Fischer BBb helicon has a 30" diameter bell.

It was sold by its former Chicago-area owner to a private collector a couple of years ago.