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I've always assumed that keeping the inside of the bell smooth was a maintenance issue.

Even when labor cost wasn't an issue, insides were smooth. Remembering that only the last bit of the bell is plated in any case, I'd imagine that it doesn't affect the sound one way or the other. Rather, removing material from both sides of the brass may weaken it, and smooth material may be easier to keep clean and wipe off from the inevitable condensation.

Regardless of the horn size, mutes would be a problem in a satin bell. If not in the mute's seal, in wearing down the corks...

bloke wrote:*including putting a piece of WOOD in one's PANTS POCKET while playing (NOT joking!!!)

I assume one would use ash for that piece of wood, since one is clearly making an a** of oneself.

Is that a Pack in your Flat, or are you just happy to see me?

bloke wrote:Trumpets are MUCH easier to make sound different by just having a different concept (or a different sound EXPECTATION) than a tuba.

Thus, the 1000's of myths regarding what *"this" or "that" will do to the sound of a trumpet.
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*including putting a piece of WOOD in one's PANTS POCKET while playing (NOT joking!!!)

If the piece of wood were full of splinters it could make the player squeal as well as his trumpet.

tubatooter1940 wrote: If the piece of wood were full of splinters it could make the player squeal as well as his trumpet.

Maybe even better than his trumpet.