YORK-aholic wrote:
That one is a Grand Rapids Band Instrument Co version. I'm curious, how did you determine the date of manufacture for it? I didn't think there was a serial number list for GRBI Co. I'd be interested to see a list if there is one.
You are correct, that is a GRBIC Monster.
I determined the date of manufacture through deduction based upon the history I have read and some assumptions based upon having worked in manufacturing (tool and die maker) in the Great Lakes Region.
1. From the history I have been able to find, GRBIC was York's student line of instruments.
2. The GRBIC instruments were built on the same machinery and fixtures by the same craftsmen as were the York instruments (e.g. they didn't have separate facilities, workers and "assembly lines" for the different labels). Scare quotes because there was more hand work than say, Ford's contemporary assembly lines.
3. I have owned four York Monster Eb tubas and have had a similar number come across my workbench. Through comparison and observation, this GRBIC model is identical to the (top action) Yorks with only two exceptions (excluding the obvious difference in bell engraving):
A. The main tuning slide is in the lead pipe rather than downstream of the valveset.
B. It lacks guard plates on the upper and bottom bows.
All other parts are identical.
4. The serial numbers are stamped into the #2 valve casing.
My experience in manufacturing tells me that it is extremely unlikely that a separate manufacturing facility for valve sets would have existed for instruments in which the only physical differences are in layout and accouterments. Further I would expect the serial numbers to have been stamped during the process of manufacturing the valvesets (the act of stamping will deform the casing so it only stands to reason that they would be stamped before the bores were honed to final dimension). Picture baskets of valvesets being offered to the craftsmen who fabricated the instruments ...
Therefore I think that GRBIC Eb Monster tubas would have serialization which would mesh with that of the "general population" of York instruments.
Am I certain of that? No. But pretty sure.
... so I think: Use York lists for GRBIC instruments.
