Miraphone Valve Venting

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:09 pm

I don't know that it was an "after the fact" option... mine has a solid fitting around the hole, that I think would be VERY hard to add on over a lacquered casing, and hard to re-do without being detectable...

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:57 pm

windshieldbug wrote:I don't know that it was an "after the fact" option... mine has a solid fitting around the hole, that I think would be VERY hard to add on over a lacquered casing, and hard to re-do without being detectable...

Curious--I've never seen that. Ray's Miraphone just had simple holes.

He bought his new from a retailer, but that doesn't mean the distributor didn't do it after arrival from Germany. On the other hand, it was always the same distributor and importer during the 70's, so that doesn't really explain the variation. I suspect it was just the mood the factory was in at the time. The Miraphone co-op is well known for being moody at times, heh, heh.

Rick "seeing enough evidence to reject all generalizations" Denney

Roger Lewis · Post by **Roger Lewis** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:18 pm

piston horns that Miraphone vents the valves on are the 1291 and the 1292. Just about any horn can be vented as my Yorkbrunner and 1291 BBb were handled fairly easily by my mechanic here. They do help the horn slur more smoothly and make it easier on the player.

If you get a 1291 BBb, get the pistons vented - you will definitely see the difference.

Roger

Richard Murrow · Post by **Richard Murrow** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:00 am

OK gentlemen, here's is the word straight from the horse's mouth! I contacted Christian Niedermaier, chief design engineer with Miraphone, for venting history and here are his comments direct from Waldkraiburg, Germany:

"The venting on the valves was done at the factory between the years 1970 to 1980-1982. The valves were vented on
the CC-Tubas 186 and 188. Why it was stopped in the mid 80Â´, I donÂ´t know. I hope this helps.
Christian"

So hopefully this explains why we have had differing opinions on this and now we are all enlightened! It also explains why the large number 186 and 188's that I tried in '88 at the warehouse were not vented.

Thanks to Christian!

Richard Murrow

Eric B · Post by **Eric B** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:55 am

Thanks to all for contributing to the discussion. We've all learned a little more about one facet of Miraphone's history.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:36 pm

Rick Denney wrote:Curious--I've never seen that. Ray's Miraphone just had simple holes.

<img src="http://www.horn-u-copia.net/yabbfiles/A ... avents.jpg" width="700">

1974 horn, and yes- still has the plastic ball joints...

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:41 am

bloke wrote: Beginning in the '80's, a contingiency began to grow that believed that venting valves had a negative effect on the response of instruments.

bloke "ventie, veedie, Don Amichi"

Does this "contingiency" apply only to rotors, where you are drilling a hole in the outer casing that can get the valve gunked up (and leak if misaligned), or also to pistons?

pwhitaker · Post by **pwhitaker** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:46 am

FYI: My 1291 BBb 5v bought last autumn has valves 3 and 4 vented, presumably when manafactured. 1, 2 and 5 are not vented.

My old 186 BBb 4u (circa 1970 ish) has no valves vented.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:22 pm

OK, so, he can do the opening. But how is the CADENZA coming along!?

TubeNet

Miraphone Valve Venting

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1291 BBb venting