TubeNet

It must be tricky playing the "4 Rotational Valves"...
This time G is 1 & 3, next time it might be 2 & 4, or 1 & 2, or...

That's Lloyd Bentsen--this is apparently Roy Benson:




who, to my eye, looks a lot like:

They're sold at K-Mart:

http://www.kmart.com/catalog/product.js ... goryId=145

Maybe it's just another name for "First Act"? Seems to be sold at the same places.

Well, they do have a website:

http://roybensonbandinst.com/

but it doesn't say much. A check on the domain shows that they're the same outfit that distributes a bunch of other Far East musical imports in the USA, Westheimer Corp of Northbrook, IL, who mostly deals in Korean-made guitars (e.g. Cort) and keyboards.

Their tuba at http://www.roybensonbandinst.com/content.php?content.7

looks to be just another Chinese student 3/4 BBb, but for the following:

4 cylander (sic) valves ball bearing action

Ball bearings in rotary valves? Interesting...

"A Promise Of Quality", which includes a 'Chatbox' feature (but not for long, I bet... ) i.e., a note from "mrkroeger" on 14 Dec : "Can You tell me what to do about my sax I bought on 11/19/05 and needs a reapir"

Maybe you're not looking in the right place:

"Roy Benson by Starlight
Levent and Todd Karr

Roy Benson was a legendary performer: a brilliant magician whose ingenious techniques baffled his peers, a superb manipulator, and a daring comedy magician considered far ahead of his time. In Roy Benson by Starlight, you can finally learn his most sought-after secrets.
The book includes over fifty incredible effects and sleights, including the famous Benson Bowl Routine, Long Salt Pour, Billiard Balls, Linking Rings, Miser’s Dream, card moves, coin effects, stage magic, close-up, and comedic routines.
You'll also learn from Benson’s essays on presentation and showmanship and the complete text of Benson’s lost book The Second Oldest Profession and his scarce Benson on Magic booklet
Roy Benson by Starlight also features a complete biography of Roy Benson and an entire section on Benson's teacher, Nate Leipzig, with twenty Leipzig effects, Leipzig's autobiography, and dozens of rare Leipzig photos"

The valve wrap looks to me to be an exact copy of the Meinl Weston rotory BBb's from the vintage when the bell said "Meinl Weston, a Division of Getzen."
The third and awkward fourth wraps are what gives it away. The body and bell of the tuba looks to be somewhat smaller, however.

windshieldbug wrote:"A Promise Of Quality", which includes a 'Chatbox' feature (but not for long, I bet... ) i.e., a note from "mrkroeger" on 14 Dec : "Can You tell me what to do about my sax I bought on 11/19/05 and needs a reapir"

Sounds like a grim situation ...

Senator, I posted with bloke, I knew of bloke, bloke was a friend of a friend. Senator, you are no bloke!

Personally, I'd like to see the Roy D. Mercer line of tubas.
"How big a boy are ya?"
http://www.roydmercer.com/flash5.html

Don't mess up that velvet Elvis!