1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 1:27 pm
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1918-J-W-YO ... 5887b5b50a" target="_blank
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Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:46 pm
This vintage tuba looks like a restorer's delight. It has some interesting looking plumbing, I wonder how it plays and sounds?
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:15 am
Cool!
I have no idea of the cost or level of effort to make it playable again, but the *outside* of this one doesn't look too bad (who knows about the valves). I love the look of these classic old tubas! I see tubas like this and just think of playing Sousa marches outdoors in the town square.
I have no idea of the cost or level of effort to make it playable again, but the *outside* of this one doesn't look too bad (who knows about the valves). I love the look of these classic old tubas! I see tubas like this and just think of playing Sousa marches outdoors in the town square.
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 11:40 am
This model has come up in discussion a few times in the last year. I believe Frank Ortega was selling one and Bloke has one "hanging from the rafters" that could be fixed for sale if there was a buyer....
Point is, there are a few of these around. Try to buy the best one available...
Point is, there are a few of these around. Try to buy the best one available...
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:21 pm
Here's a pretty good looking one:The Big Ben wrote:Try to buy the best one available...
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 3:34 am
It could look like this if you take it to Dan Oberloh....bort wrote:Cool!
I have no idea of the cost or level of effort to make it playable again, but the *outside* of this one doesn't look too bad (who knows about the valves). I love the look of these classic old tubas! I see tubas like this and just think of playing Sousa marches outdoors in the town square.
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 3:53 am
When these old model 33 tubas are in truly good order, they can be really nice playing horns. However, not many folks are willing to invest the money and time to restore them the way they typically require to play at there best. 
Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank
Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 2:50 am
This model was requisitioned quite frequently by the USQMC.
Dale Hale had two of these, pre-1901 vintage, if memory serves me right. Both had been restored by someone out west. He was quite fond of them and the sound they produced.
If the price doesn't skyrocket, then it will at least provide someone with a good resonator for a 4/4 sized project horn.
Good luck!
Happy bidding!
Dale Hale had two of these, pre-1901 vintage, if memory serves me right. Both had been restored by someone out west. He was quite fond of them and the sound they produced.
If the price doesn't skyrocket, then it will at least provide someone with a good resonator for a 4/4 sized project horn.
Good luck!
Happy bidding!
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 8:58 pm
I went and tried the horn today. Lee Stofer stopped by my place a couple of months ago with his really nice original model 33 York and the new copy that Kanstul is now making so I have some basis for comparison.
Mind you I did this during the lunch hour today and the strip mall this place was in was a madhouse so I only was able to spend about 15 minutes with the horn.
The bell top is really beat up. Numerous and major denting. It also has a small tear and maybe a 5 inch crack. I noticed it just as I was leaving (the place was kind of dimly lit) - it had the appearance of when wall board is scored so I'm not sure if it went all the way through. The rest of the bell stack was in pretty good shape. The slides were also in pretty good shape dent wise. Some moved and some didn't. The side opposite of the bell stack looked like somebody had dropped it hard. The tubing at the bottom bow going upward was kicked in and really flattened for quite a ways.
The valves need a valve job. None of the valve caps matched. There was definitely major air leaking going on. Didn't have enough time to figure out where it was leaking. Even with all the slides in the thing was 30 cents flat on my hand held tuner. Some notes were really funky sounding. In it's present state I would not take it anywhere to play in public due to bad valves, leaking air and some non-existent notes. The horn looked like it was well used in its lifetime and the gentleman who owned it apparently passed away a couple weeks ago and the heirs found it in the house in the attic I think I was told by the ebay shop selling it for them.
I guess it depends on what you would use it for, but if someone goes the complete restoration route you will probably have as much money in it when you are done as the new Kanstul which is a very nice sounding replica of it and can also be had in front action style.
Mind you I did this during the lunch hour today and the strip mall this place was in was a madhouse so I only was able to spend about 15 minutes with the horn.
The bell top is really beat up. Numerous and major denting. It also has a small tear and maybe a 5 inch crack. I noticed it just as I was leaving (the place was kind of dimly lit) - it had the appearance of when wall board is scored so I'm not sure if it went all the way through. The rest of the bell stack was in pretty good shape. The slides were also in pretty good shape dent wise. Some moved and some didn't. The side opposite of the bell stack looked like somebody had dropped it hard. The tubing at the bottom bow going upward was kicked in and really flattened for quite a ways.
The valves need a valve job. None of the valve caps matched. There was definitely major air leaking going on. Didn't have enough time to figure out where it was leaking. Even with all the slides in the thing was 30 cents flat on my hand held tuner. Some notes were really funky sounding. In it's present state I would not take it anywhere to play in public due to bad valves, leaking air and some non-existent notes. The horn looked like it was well used in its lifetime and the gentleman who owned it apparently passed away a couple weeks ago and the heirs found it in the house in the attic I think I was told by the ebay shop selling it for them.
I guess it depends on what you would use it for, but if someone goes the complete restoration route you will probably have as much money in it when you are done as the new Kanstul which is a very nice sounding replica of it and can also be had in front action style.
Re: 1918 York BBb 4v
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 11:06 pm
Agreed. I really like the way the 4th valve tubes kind of swoop up and follow the curve of the top bow and then flow down the front alongside the valves and first valve tubes. I think this is a very pretty horn.Mike Finn wrote:Here's a pretty good looking one:The Big Ben wrote:Try to buy the best one available...