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I have a classic Helleberg, in great shape.
Shank is round and smooth, with one tiny nick.
There are a few very small scratches on the rim.
It says, "CONN-HELLEBERG" on the side.
Someone told me that there are fans on Tubenet
willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a classic Helleberg.
Is that true?

Thanks, Bruce

Does it look like this?




If so, I think you're going to be disappointed. If not, you should be quite happy and should sell it on that auction site.

Hello cjk,
what' s the matter with the mpc shown on the pic?
I also own such a mpc, - I think, rather rare here in Germany.
best regards
Ulli

Its a matter of age... the "really classic" Helleburgs have a ridged outside throat, and were made early in the 20th century. Those mouthpieces are going for big bucks now, no matter where you sell them.

The actual inside mouthpiece may be the same, or similar, but like old quarters which still say "25 cents", the desirability is in the availability and the age.

Here's the link to my photo:

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l23/b ... h=imgAnch1

The mouthpiece is clean.
The sock is clean.
The hood of my car is not so clean.

Looks like my Helleberg isn't old enough to be
a collector's item.

thanks, Bruce

The irony is,

How much is MY Helleberg worth?

I know a guy that has two. He plays on one and has another one that is still brand new and in the original box. He said he bought them over 40 years ago (he is 69 years old), he wanted a spare just in case something happened. How much would it be worth today?

He also has a 1924 Conn satin gold finish raincatcher sousaphone.... lucky guy!

OK, so his mint condition mouthpiece is worth $60 while mine, which looks like it was in a washing machine with a bunch of shrapnel, is worth $300. Conceivably these two could have been created only 1 year apart. The only thing different, as far as we know, is the ridged shank ring.