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In my sophomore year of high school (1972-73), my high school band hall was being rennovated. Two old tubas were found (and given to me). The one instrument that the band kept was a vintage 1923 Buescher sousaphone. When we found it, it was in terrible shape. It had all four valves but no valve stems or buttons. Stems and buttons for a King sousaphone were used. It was also missing a valve cap. For that, a tiny piece of sheet metal was used on the bottom of the third valve and secured with heavy gauge wire. We had trouble finding a gooseneck. We asked several manufacturers what to use--we ended up using a replacement neck intended for a Martin. This horn weighed in at 45 pounds and had a 32 inch bell. It had a nice clear sound--used mainly for parades and a few half-time shows. Most California high school tuba players at that time, wore the same headgear as the rest of the band and I was able to wear my 20 inch busby/shako, although I had to have the bottom part of the sousaphone about 12 inches away from my side, in order for the bell to be aimed straight forward.

I'm sorry but I have no idea what happened to that horn. The last time I saw it was when I graduated.