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I have an opportunity to buy an ancient ('40's) Reynolds BBb sousaphone -- except it's missing a valve. Anyone know where to look for these? Or better yet, have a set of which they'd let one go?

I think some of the King and Olds tubas/sousa of that era were the same. Bloke would know for sure. It might give you some options. If you have a set like the two hanging on my shop wall... the diameter of the piston is .975". I have complete good valvesets for a Reynolds and a King but I'ld rather not part them out just yet.

bloke wrote: It appears as though TubaTinker and I were on the save wavelength at the same moment...'

Damn!... now, THAT's scary

Yes, indeed, because H N White hired Reynolds away from York to make his high brass and valves for him, while he worked with Thomas King on the trombones and low brass. White made a marketing person out of him. Then Reynolds went on his own, sold, retired, and came out of retirement to work with F E Olds. The most recent incarnation of the design is by Zig Kanstul, who used to be the shop manager at Olds/Reynolds. So King, Reynolds, Olds, and now Kanstul all have as their primary bore for their tubas .687, or 11/16. It's a small world, after all....

Which valve? I have 11 Reynolds Sousas (and 34 others) in my storage unit upstairs. I'm sure I can find a valve. DLH