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http://desmoines.craigslist.org/msg/5666728965.html" target="_blank" target="_blank Here's an oldie. Too bad it's 1500 miles away.

Very interesting... Bell taper just looks strange to me for some reason, like it doesn't belong on a Conn. I dunno....Cool old horn though. I'm only three hours away.... But I don't need another project horn.

While spending a few idle minutes pondering what Conn model that would be, I noticed that hornucopia says of many older models "tuning pre-valves *'28 catalog appears to be post-valves." I've seen one or two other examples like this, pictures, that are supposed to be Conns and look a lot like '20s era, but no tuning slide in the leadpipe. Maybe that's why - they changed that, but didn't change the model numbers, so this is still (maybe) a 28J from the late '20s? (Plus some bell-enlarging haze from a greasy lens.)

It sure has some meaty bows in the back!

If I was closer I'd take a chance for $400.

edsel585960 wrote:If I was closer I'd take a chance for $400.

It was only 1100 miles for me.

I was going to Iowa anyway eventually on account of an ebay tuba. And i got nothing better to do.

What is new to me is it came with a bit... Is that usual for Conn uprights?!

My working theory about the bit is just it was stuck to the mouthpiece, and he didn't want to sell the tuba without one. Perhaps it belongs with the $500 York sousaphone the seller might be looking to sell in the near future.

Otherwise, it does look like a project, but with plenty of promise.

Anyway, pester me if a more detailed report is wanted... once the weekend is over and i have returned the 1100 miles.

So you picked it up then? Very cool. Please post more detailed photos when you get a chance.

humBell wrote: What is new to me is it came with a bit... Is that usual for Conn uprights?!

Not today, and who knows about yours, but

Lee Stofer wrote:Also, many people do not seem to realize that the Conn 20-series tubas were designed to be played with a single Conn tuning bit.

Not home yet. One more stop.

Pictures will be forthcoming...

Pester me if i don't get them up in a week.

Oh and seller says the sousaphone has 3 bits and a neck. Bit does match the receiver at first glance, so it could well belong.

As promised, a few pictures. Let me know if it is more appropriate to start a thread in another section (i probably will if anyone wants more than this summary)

The overview shot:



A closer look at various pragmatic repairs.



The leadpipe, receiver, and bit.



The logo: it has Farmington HS etched in it, with a 7 below it. From serial number i think it was made in 1906, so perhaps it was made for the high school?



Down the bell:



Only the tuning slide is free in its high/low extenders Pistons seem fine, though it plays with a bit of a leak somewhere, i fancy. I blame the lead pipe, and at least imagine it improves when i cover a particularly twisted part with my finger. That said, it has a fine sound.

It needs some attention, and i sure hope i give it...