TubeNet

Have you actually contacted Cerveny? Most manufacturers still accommodate their older instruments in one way or another!

Also, are you sure you really want to add a valve? If you set your 3rd tuning slide so that 2-3 is a tad flat but lippable to tune (it should be due to the wide "slots" that are usually characteristic of these tubas) and get 1st valve lapped well to pull, then unless you're really going to dwell in the lowest of the trenches with this tuba (and 99%+ of the literature DOES NOT), then I'd leave it alone, get it up and running as is, and enjoy.

It's not just adding a valve. You have to figure out where to plumb the tubing, add appropriate bracing, make sure there is clearance for the tuning slide so you can tune it and empty it as necessary, add appropriate bracing that does not settle on a compression node for another note that could cause intonation difficulties, etc.

If you use too large an assembly for the 4th valve, you impinge on the transition to the main tuning slide, which could actually end up being smaller diameter than your added valve, which again will cause intonation issues.

Please consider just getting this veteran up and running as is without the risk of, well, less than totally favorable results.

It's also possible that this horn never had a 4th valve. I would think you would need an entire valve set to really make it work right. Better to get this horn working and just play it.

Interesting substitution for springs...

I have lust in my heart or this horn. That is a very cool instrument and I bet it has a sound to die for. If you ever want to part with it, let me know!

As far as the valves go...maybe contact Cerveny, and get a whole new valve set? They still make and offer the clockwork springs as options on their tubas, so they could probably help.

Definately let us see it when its finished! Great horn!

mcl_Contra wrote:I have sent Amati/Cerveny an email but so far have gotten no reply. I'll keep trying.

They respond better to snail mail, I think they take it more seriously. It also helps if you are a repairman and have "Tuba Restoration of South Bronx" or something as a letterhead.

Restoration for family history is as good of a reason as any and better than many...

Offhand, I don't have any better advice than anyone else. Too bad there isn't something like a 'horn junkyard' where parts could be gathered. Hope you don't have to do anything like buy a whole horn to get the parts.

Those big, meaty bows and branches do look as if they would have good tone. Oumm-pa-pa indeed!