1900's Helicon - now a proud owner

[Dylan King]

Wow. Beautiful horn.

[Chuck(G)]

The horn's clearly been worked on during its life (sloppy solder cleanup), but I wonder if the 4th valve is original.

[windshieldbug]

It's got "Floozie" written all over it...

[Donn]

I just got a 1900's Czech F helicon off ebay on a whim. Has anyone played one of these? Know any more about the specifics of the manufacturer?

I have an Amati F helicon with noticeable similarities, but probably less than half its age, with more dents and fewer solder messes. Shape is like the Cerveny pictured on the Amati-Denak site, but valves are clocksprings like yours. It's OK as far as I'm concerned, not the biggest sound in the world but probably pretty good for F. To hear this instrument at its best, check out Sasha Alisanovic in Boban Markovic's band.

Try to get confortable with the playing position before you take it to the shop, since this may turn out to be one of the things you'll want to address. This helicon shape is nice because it's very stable, will sit there hands free, but there's no choice about where it sits.

You'll know right away whether the valve springs are OK.

I have had some trouble with (I think?) the rotors in my similar Eb - in fact I'm really sweating this, because I'm kind of locked into playing this instrument in a relatively important gig this weekend, and the first valve has started giving me trouble. It locks up, usually in the open position. I suppose there's a remote possibility that it's the linkage, but my guess is that the rotor itself is getting wedged somehow. I can get it to happen fairly quickly if I hold the valve near open and sort of jiggle it until it locks. You might try that, to see if there's a problem that will need attention while they have the valves apart.

[Donn]

Thanks for the advice Donn. I'm new to helicons, and I didn't realize the shop people might be able to easily make adjustments for comfort!

Oops, did I say that would be easy? I'm just saying, you might need it.

I'm not expecting the horn to have a big sound (14"bell), but I am hoping for good projection. Ideally I'd love a sound close to a miraphone 184. I think I may be asking too much though.

I agree, but to be fair, I've never heard a 184. If it plays modern concert pitch, that's going to be a big help.

The description on the sellers site said the valves had been recently serviced and in good condition.

My experience was that they're not bad guys to do business with, but you have to be a little skeptical.

[Alex F]

Was that bought from LTMI?

If so, they package very well. I've bought a couple of horns from them and they have come via UPS with no damage. They use very heavy boxes and they are stuffed with shredded paper. My biggest gripe is cleaning up shredded paper for several days after a horn is delivered.

IMHO, the guy is a straight shooter and his descriptions are generally accurate and detailed, although a tad optomistic as to condition. He is mistaken at times on such things as bore size but will re-check and update his listings if you let him know. It's a small operation but does a lot of business, mostly in "used and abused school horns" (his words).

He's got a couple more helicons and a few tubas. There's an old BBb one that looks very rough.

[tubatooter1940]

I had to use my girlfriends scrunchy to hold the spit valve shut

That sounds painful. I have stuffed many a bar napkin in leaky spit valves.
Congratulations, Ben. It sounds like your gamble will pay off well. I hope the low range stuffiness is only an obstruction (beer can?) or something simple. Have mucho fun with it.
Toots

[Donn]

I had to use my girlfriends scrunchy to hold the spit valve shut

That sounds painful.

If "scrunchy" in your part of the country would mean some anatomical part of his girlfriend, relax - I think it's really just an elastic thing they use to gather up their hair in the back.

[tubatooter1940]

I had to use my girlfriends scrunchy to hold the spit valve shut

That sounds painful.

If "scrunchy" in your part of the country would mean some anatomical part of his girlfriend, relax - I think it's really just an elastic thing they use to gather up their hair in the back.

What mean you sir, by "your part of the country"? I'll have you know I know a scrunchy when I hear one.