Another round of..... NAME THAT HELICON!

[djwesp]

Okay boys and girls, here's my first opportunity to thank tubabob for a WONDERFUL gift. He's really a great guy and has taken his time to bestow wonderful teaching, shelter, and even this gem of a horn.

We'll start with what I know:

1. Bought in the Czech Republic.

2. In the key of F.

3. Bell garland says, plumi? flumi? something to that effect.


Pictures








The horn is now in the hands of the skilled Jeff Stelling. The question is, what is it?


Thanks TNFG


Wes "amazing how much the tuba community can be like family" Pendergrass

[Rick Denney]

1. Bought in the Czech Republic.

My first thought before reading this was a Cerveny. The details vary, but this was the standard helicon arrangement for Cerveny-style rotary instruments for many decades. You'll note that the valve body is identical to a standard rotary tuba, just as we find sousaphone-like valve bodies on front-action piston tubas.

Rick "who would have loved this instrument in his re-enactment days" Denney

[djwesp]

Any idea of age?

[djwesp]

NAME THAT HELICON!

Hans.

or Frans...

Or JEZEK... a czech name, from the word hedgehog.

[djwesp]

http://tinyurl.com/yptw2y



And here's a fingering chart for it (scroll down)!!!

That picture is about as close of a representation of this specific horn, that I've seen.

I think I'll work Bydlo up on it. See how fast I get kicked out of the next audition.

[windshieldbug]

I played a Conn Bb brass sousa on the 4th.
Of course I had to try Bydlo on it too!!
Worked better than on my Eb's!!!

Uh, Bob, you aren't exactly doing your marketing any favors here...

[andrew the tuba player]

oh oh!!! how bout.....um...fred

[basstooter]

Could it be a Heckelphone? There was one here in the Middle of Michigan. I bided on one at a local antique store and my Band Director ended up with it for his horn collection. Meaning of "what the heck {elphone} is it" As I tried to toot on it and was more like a moose in heat sound. Many air leakes I suspect.

[Lew]

Could it be a Heckelphone? There was one here in the Middle of Michigan. I bided on one at a local antique store and my Band Director ended up with it for his horn collection. Meaning of "what the heck {elphone} is it" As I tried to toot on it and was more like a moose in heat sound. Many air leakes I suspect.

OK, I know you were making a joke, but there actually was such a thing as a Heckelphone. It was designed and made by Heckel, famous for his Bassoon designs. It is a double reed instrument similar to a bass oboe. My old band director found one at an auction from an old German band and traded it for 2 Fox Bassons and an oboe for his HS band.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckelphone

[djwesp]

Wes, have you played it yet?

Indeed, the open side of the horn. It is getting repaired by Jeff Stelling at the moment, that way I can try it with the valves.


First attempt to play it was humorous, with the leaks, but the last one was much better. Sounds extremely small and bass trombone-y, very unique.