Unlike my visit to Rudolf Meinl (viewtopic.php?t=22407), Mark Carter of Mr.Tuba had pre-arranged my visit to the factory of Wenzil Meinl where Melton/Meinl-Weston tubas are made at Geretsried, south of Munich.
I approached from the south after visiting Berchtesgaden and was struck by how rural and scenic the area is, with the best sighting I have ever had of a fox while on my journey.
On arrival, I was greeted by Herr Volkmar who speaks good English to show me around. This is a bigger operation than Rudolf Meinl, but still a relatively small factory with me only seeing about dozen workers around the place.
Herr Volkmar took me through the process of manufacture. The brass comes into the factory in sheets and tubes where they can get the correct diameter. I saw how the tubes are bent as below. This is part of a Fafner of which they seem to being doing a batch during my visit.
<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 2.JPG"></a>
After bending, they look like this.
<a><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 3.JPG"></a>
They now have to be opened out into exactly the right size. This is done by putting into a die as below and then hydraulically blowing out into shape.
<a><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 1.JPG"></a>
This is done for most tubas, but those hand-made, or where the correct size tube is not available are made from sheet metal. Fittings are then added so they look like this.
<a><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 0.JPG"></a>
We then moved onto the bell construction. These are made from sheet metal cut to the right size using templates
<a><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 7.JPG"></a>
These sheets are then very skillfully bent and soldered around a bell shape using zig-zag joints.
<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 9.JPG"></a>
...and then spun reasonably smooth.
<a><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 4.JPG"></a>
All component now go into the all important polishing shop to provide the finish we love. This is a dirty process which is also very hard work
<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 5.JPG"></a>
Assembly can now take place with the valves actually coming from the B&S factory
<a><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 2.JPG"></a>
With the result of another Fafner just completed
<a><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5G ... 3.JPG"></a>
And more tubas made ready for dispatch - the lacquer, or silver plating process taking place at the B&S factory (somewhere for my next German tour
)<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 6.JPG"></a>
Having been shown around the workshops, I was then taken up to the playing room to be left with this wonderful selection to try
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<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 2.jpg"></a>
There were a lot of F tubas I did not have time to touch, so I concentrated on the CC and BBb.
I had the chance to compare the 2000, 2165, 2265, Baer and Thor. They all played wonderful and sounded great in the good acoustics of the playing room. The 2165/2265 noticeably felt bigger than the Baer which I thought easier to handle. The 2000 sounded good, but it was the Thor that really grabbed me - what a sound - I joked with Herr Volkmar that if they were giving a free sample I would take the Thor! He explained that the Thor although a piston valve CC is designed internally more along German, rather than American lines with it having the playing characteristics of the best German BBb of easy slotting of notes, good intonation and an open low register.
Here is the Baer, Thor and 2000 side by side. The Baer is apparently particularly difficult to make, thus the high price for this model.
<a><img src="http://lh6.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 8.JPG"></a>
I then moved onto BBb, trying the new top valve and front valve Howard Johnson, and an 18 and 25 (gold brass) rotary valve.
They once again all played well, but I thought the front valve Howard Johnson noticeably better than the original top valve with it being more open blowing. Herr Volkmar confirmed that I am not the first player to think it better! The rotary valve version prototype was also there but not playable - apparently they have still not got it satisfactory to go into production.
<a><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 3.jpg"></a>
The 18 and 25 both proved good BBb which I would not mind playing. Line up below Thor, 18, HJ top, HJ front, 25.
<a><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 2.jpg"></a>
Having arrived at 10:30am, I now had to be on my way, as everyone was going to lunch, just spotting these hunting horns, they also make, on my way out.
<a><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Jonathantuba/Ro5H ... 7.JPG"></a>
Postscript
That evening I went to a concert of the Munich Philharmonic playing Mahler 9. I was expecting a German F tuba, but to my surprise a big York style CC came on played by an American tubist!
My next report will be of my visit to play with a band in Austria.
