How original WERE the designs of August Helleberg's m'pcs?

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:04 am

Bloke-
I thought the same thing when I saw that tuba mouthpiece--I am sure the rim is flatter than a pancake and it is a shallow cup, but looks very much like a Helleberg....I have a pre Helleberg Conn '850 1/4' mouthpiece that is huge with a monster throat but it has the ring near the shank like a Helleberg--I think IMHO he just tweaked the Conn mouthpieces of the day into the famous 'H' mouthpiece--in fact, the original Conn 'H' mouthpieces look a lot like --on the outside--a Sear Helleberg mouthpiece--maybe that is what Sear copied it from.
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@Juno.com

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:09 pm

Hi-
No, I beleive it is not a Conn but some 19th C contra bass saxhorn mouthpiece.
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@Juno.com