Is this a Conn 8Xj???

[Alex C]

Mine turned out to be one of the first Conn Donatelli models.

Any chance o' you posting pix of that?

Please?

I have been told by the computer tech that some data (I don't know which) from my computer was too corrupted to save. The rest is loaded on discs for me to pick up as soon as I can.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can sort through the contects of the discs I have. It's in no particular order.

Anybody understand the motivation of people who create viruses? If you have the ability to write a program as thorough as the program that ate it's way through my computer, why not write a productive program and make money? What's the point of viruses? (viri?)

[Donn]

Anybody understand the motivation of people who create viruses? If you have the ability to write a program as thorough as the program that ate it's way through my computer, why not write a productive program and make money? What's the point of viruses? (viri?)

In the usual case, they're not genius programmers who could make money writing productive programs. The purpose - if you try to look at it from their point of view, whatever purpose vandalism has ever had.

If you're looking for a purpose in the larger scheme of things - what's the point of a real virus? If anything, I guess it weeds out the weak individuals, species, etc. Like if a computer software company gets too large, too enmeshed in legacies of its own old, misdesigned systems, too eager to provide new features that may not have been very well thought out, then viruses may provide some of the inertial upset that gives its competitors a chance at the market. But of course, the virus doesn't intend to do this.

Sorry about the files, that sucks!

[windshieldbug]

Serial #: 217425
Year Key Valve
1924 BBb 4 Piston

[trseaman]

I've been emailing back & forth with HeliconMan about his 80J and he kindly emailed a photo of his horn. It's a beauty with a gorgeous gold washed bell... For me, this is the final proof that my horn is not an 8xJ series horn. The 80J is larger and the run of the tubing is similar but not the same as mine.


So... Now we see In the previous post that HeliconMan has found a similar horn! How about a side-by-side comparison???

Remember that my main tuning slide has been cut but the same branch on the brass horn appears to take a little different course than mine... To me, that looks to be the only difference between the two horns. I'm going to call The Tuba Exchange on Tuesday and we'll see what else they can tell me! I'm guessing that dimensions will be the confirming factor. It doesn't look like they have a model number either...

The mystery continues...

Thanks Paul for your help!

[trseaman]

Hello all,

Okay, so my horn is now for sale on Ebay, but... I got an email from a fellow tuba player and he emailed pics of his horn. His is a CC and it's a bit of a frankentuba! He says the horn has been modified and that the original run of his tubing was identical to mine, pre-modifications. His horn is a little older than mine and is not marked with a model number and It's also a little larger:

His Body Height: 29in
Mine: 27 1/2in

His Body Width (not including the bell branch): 11in
Mine: 9 1/2in

So, because of the age and the basic design, could this be a cousin to my horn? Would there be a slight difference in size because of the key? (CC vs Bb) It looks to me like it's missing some branches but is that a "CC" thing?

The Conn Loyalist Webpage suggest that it should be an 84J, if you use her recognition guide. But it doesn't match that horn exactly either... Another fine example of Conn documentation & record keeping???

Any thoughts???

[trseaman]

Another question about bore size...

I have searched the archives and I think that measuring the ID of the 2nd valve tuning slide is what I found the most. As you may know, this horn is for sale on Ebay and someone just emailed and suggested to pull any valve and measure a hole to get the correct bore size.

What is the absolute correct way to measure the bore???

Thanks, Tim

[windshieldbug]

I suspect that either way will work in this instance unless your horn has been heavily modified. The difference in method is because some more recent horns have a "dual bore", where, for example, the fourth or fifth or fourth AND fifth valves have a bigger bore.

The second valve would be accurate, as would, I think in your case, any valve. Bumping up the bore later in the horn becomes more popular as time goes on.

[Lew]

My understanding of the most common way to measure bore is the inner diameter of the second valve slide.

[trseaman]

I received this from an Ebay user concerning this horn:

The Conn General Catalog 'C' - no date but probably 1925 - shows a horn with a similar wrap and detachable bell, model number 48J, called the 'New Wonder Phonograph Model Bass'. However, this horn is in CC. Apparently made originally for August Helleberg. I don't know if the BBb model number for this would be different or not. Typically (e.g. with the Orchestra Grand Bass 34J was in BBb and 36J was in CC) Conn used different numbers for BBb and CC basses. If the same numbering was followed, this bass might be a 46J. On the other hand Conn often reused numbers. The same catalog C lists the BBb Symphony Basses as 80J-83J (variants 3 or 4 valves, low or high pitch) and the CC versions as 84J-87J. Notes that are available either with a fixed bell or 'wonderphone' forward bell.

I feel that this horn could be a distant cousin to either the 48j or the 34/36j because the tube wrap is similar. The 48j page at the Conn Loyalist doesn't reference a Bb horn or any other model numbers which is common among most of Conn's horns. It's easy to speculate but it's safe to say that since there's no hard proof or pictures of "this horn" that we cannot label it a specific model...

Any additional thoughts???

[trseaman]

So this horn sold to a fella up in Northern California... He's got a small collection of horns so I was happy that it should be well taken care of. But as UPS is know to do, they apparently dropped the box and it's now dented along the top bow... There was padding between the horn & case and the case & box. The buyer also said the leather strap holding the horn to the bottom of the case had been broken. Tell me that it wasn't dropped from a significant height... So I have started the claims process, which I'm sure will be a lovely experience! Anyone had any experience with UPS claims service???

[trseaman]

Just an update...

I went thru the claims process with UPS but of course they determined that it was packaged improperly. What bothered me the most was that they shipped the horn back to me. Yes, it traveled another 1000 miles back to Southern California... They didn't ask what should be done, only stating that it is "policy" to return damaged items to the shipper. I was lucky that nothing happened on the return shipment and I took the horn out to Robb Stewart for repairs. It took a few days but I got the horn back looking as good as new. So with a hard lesson learned and way too much money out of pocket, I prepared the package again for shipment. I took all precautions for the second shipment with more packing peanuts than necessary and more than enough extra padding inside the case. It arrived a couple days later in N. California in perfect condition. I have talked with the new owner and he said that he has lacquered the copper bell and is happy with the horn! I told him that when he's ready to sell the horn, he should track me down!!!

Pics taken after the repair... Tim

[trseaman]

Wow...

This little horn has come full circle for me! No, I'm not kidding!


About a month ago I emailed the current owner (who lurks TubeNet occasionally!) and jokingly told him I was ready to "buy back" the little Conn! To my surprise he said okay!!! So it arrived a couple weeks ago and I'm pleased to have it back in my possession.

I was able to do a tuba solo of sorts with 6-7 Xmas carols last weekend at a Xmas party at a local bank. It was a big success and everyone was real pleased.

On a somewhat related note, I received an email from Jim (Another lurker!) who is the owner of an 82J. He sent some pics and it's a fine looking horn! I also forwarded his pic to The Conn Loyalist webpage...

Happy Holidays!

Tim

[Bandmaster]

Wow...

This little horn has come full circle for me! No, I'm not kidding!


About a month ago I emailed the current owner (who lurks TubeNet occasionally!) and jokingly told him I was ready to "buy back" the little Conn! To my surprise he said okay!!! So it arrived a couple weeks ago and I'm pleased to have it back in my possession.

I was able to do a tuba solo of sorts with 6-7 Xmas carols last weekend at a Xmas party at a local bank. It was a big success and everyone was real pleased.

Hey Tim, how's it in Oklahoma? All this because I misidentified this tuba and told you about it on eBay... I felt bad that it wasn't what I thought it was after you bought it, but now that you bought it back "knowing" what it is I don't feel so bad anymore. I thought it played pretty good when I tried it that time, so I am happy you have it back!

Merry Christmas to you and your family! BTW, let me know what community band you hook up with, maybe we can trade links on the band websites?

[trseaman]

I emailed The Tuba Exchange to inquire about my horns cousin. His response is below...

Dear Tim:

Thank you for your e-mail with the link to the picture of your Conn tuba.

The tuba that we have in our collection (tag number 1503) does not have a model number associated with it. The musicology student from Duke University, who mounted our collection, researched each instrument and could not find a model number for this instrument.

Also, the bell on your instrument seems much larger than the bell on our instrument, which could possibly indicate that it may not be the original bell.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Vince Simonetti
The Tuba Exchange, Inc.

So... As usual, this little horn is still unidentified...

Tim

[iiipopes]

I don't know. From what I've seen through the years, the Conns had the bigger bells. The TubaExchange tuba looks to me like it is the one with a replacement bell, judging by its fit, finish and angle of the bell.

[trseaman]

The Conn General Catalog 'C' - no date but probably 1925 - shows a horn with a similar wrap and detachable bell, model number 48J, called the 'New Wonder Phonograph Model Bass'. However, this horn is in CC. Apparently made originally for August Helleberg. I don't know if the BBb model number for this would be different or not. Typically (e.g. with the Orchestra Grand Bass 34J was in BBb and 36J was in CC) Conn used different numbers for BBb and CC basses. If the same numbering was followed, this bass might be a 46J. On the other hand Conn often reused numbers. The same catalog C lists the BBb Symphony Basses as 80J-83J (variants 3 or 4 valves, low or high pitch) and the CC versions as 84J-87J. Notes that are available either with a fixed bell or 'wonderphone' forward bell.

Some of the Conn catalogs had the dimension of the horns. From the catalogs available, does anyone have dimensions for the 48J?

These two horns look a lot alike with the smaller bells:

From a description from the Conn Loyalist webpage:

What Conn said in 1926:
The CC Phonograph Model Bass as shown on this page was originally built by C.G. Conn, Ltd., at the personal request of the celebrated Tuba artist, August Helleberg. Since it was introduced the bass players of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago have found the Conn Phonograph Model indispensable for their recording. Each purchaser of one of these has been unusually high in his praise of the easy tone production, quick speaking quality abd clean recordings of the Conn Phonograph Bass.
This instrument is built one tone higher than the regular BBb bass, is of smaller bore, and is made up much more compactly than the regular BBb bass used in bands. The adjustable bell enables the performer to throw the tone in any direction desired, and the curve in the bell has a marked tendency to mellow the tone. Both of these features are extremely valuable for recording purposes.

Since my horn is much smaller than other Conn's, the bolded statement from above is what has sparked my interest in the 48J family. Does anyone have a 4xJ series horn???

Tim

[iiipopes]

Nice. I stand corrected and withdraw my earlier remark.

[trseaman]

Here's a few pics that I took outside today!

Full size??? Click Here! Here! and Here!




Then I went inside and took these! Enjoy!!!

Full size??? Click HERE!, HERE!, and for a really big engraving click HERE!!!