Anyone seen this?

OldsRecording · Post by **OldsRecording** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:00 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/TUBA-1-2-SIZE-BOOSE ... dZViewItem

Is it just me, or is this the smallest bell flare this side of Weipricht and Moritz?

Eric B · Post by **Eric B** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:12 pm

I thought it was a euphonium at first glance. Yes, tiny bell at what, 11"?

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:17 pm

Bevan includes a picture of an 1870's Cerveny rotary tuba that has much less flare than this instrument. This doesn't seem all that extreme to me, especially for a pre-Sovereign Besson.

The wide flare is an American concept. For example, here's a new Meinl-Weston 197 that doesn't have a heck of a lot more flare than the old Besson you pictured:

Rick "whose old Stratford was a real 4/4 tuba with a 15" bell" Denney

tubadude411 · Post by **tubadude411** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:22 pm

That is a really cool looking horn. Not very often you see one of these. I wonder how it plays?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:28 pm

tubadude411 wrote:I wonder how it plays?

Like an Eb tuba. You use a mouthpiece in the small end, and buzz your lips... !

Peach · Post by **Peach** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:44 pm

I'm pretty sure either
1) The bell has been cut for some reason - presumably to get rid of a damaged flair, or
2) That's not the original bell.
I'd say option 1 is far more likely...

Boosey never produced a bell like that to my knowledge.
I have 3 little Eb's like that one. 2x 3 valve and 1x 4 valve. All compers and all have the same 12.75" bell.

Seems like a strange instrument. There's the odd bell and also the main horn still seems to be in high pitch but the valves have extenders on the slides to correct the pitch.

Mine all play very nicely (in a sort of small way).