What tuba models did Bill Bell have

[eupher61]

I've seen the photographer in that picture (have the album in front of me...50 cents at the Goodwill store last year!) but I'd never noticed Harvey in the back/foreground. How cool!

[bill]

I believe he "co-owned" the sousaphone with another NYC tubist for a time, (George Black?) and the story was that it was sometimes kept in locker in Grand Central Station.

George Black was a good friend and taught me most of what Ii know about good tuba playing. The line on my signature is a quote from him. George told me about the horn they co-owned and the locker in Grand Central Station and that was, indeed, the horn used for most of the album Bill Bell and His Tuba. When George died, his widow, Betty, sent me George's York Bell Front BBb upright (my son has it, now). I have often wondered where George got that horn. Anyone know?

[pigman]

I belive that the Martin that Mr Bell was holding belonged to Lew Waldeck. Mr bell used it in the picture because it was the nicest looking horn that any of the Bell students had. Mr Bell was not known for treating his horns with great care.

[MartyNeilan]

And BTW, Mike has truly the greatest King on the planet--Joe Novotny's CC King that he used with the NY Phil.--the sound of that horn is simply incredible.

Was this the horn that Warren Deck rebuilt into "Frankenstein" and was later restored after WD retired?

[Art Hovey]

No, Warren Deck's Frankentuba was a Conn. I am pretty sure that it is the same one that is in the photos in Fred Geib's method book. Don Butterfield remarked that it played much better after Warren's modifications; he remembered it from the old days.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Yes, Art is correct--Warren took the old Conn of Fritz Geib's and put an Alex valve section on it and used it with the NY Phil. for a time--it is now owned by Mike Lynch and Mike has had it completely restored to its original condition with the original valve set --just as Geib had it.

Regards-
mark
jonestuba@juno.com

[Bob Sacchi]

I believe I have a picture that shows Mr. Bell with that custom 4 valve King F tuba, but do not know how to attach it...

Mark, I almost bought one of Lew Waldeck's Donatelli Conn BBb tubas back in the 80's - at about the same time I came across a 5/4 BBb York, and bought that horn instead. That Conn was a very good horn (it had detachable upright and recording bells) - I wonder where it went......

Bob

[bisontuba]

Hi-
I think you mean this one:

<img src="http://www.myphotolodge.com/is.php?i=15 ... _&_his.jpg" border="0">

Regards-
mark
jonestuba@Juno.com

[Bob Sacchi]

Mark, that's the one......

I also have a picture of him playing it. Can you tell me how to attach it?

Bob

[Paul Scott]

Hi Bob,
I also played a Donatelli Conn BBb that had belonged to Lew Waldeck. After his passing a few years back it came up for sale but I could not afford to buy it at the time-wish I had! It was also being offered to a former student of his but what the outcome was I don't know-I may be able to find out.

It was an excellent instrument and came with both upright and recording bells, as you describe. The leadpipe was a bit mangled but this didn't seem to affect its' performance very much. It came with canvas bags as well.

[eupher61]

Mark, that's the one......

I also have a picture of him playing it. Can you tell me how to attach it?

Bob

Bob, you have to have the photo on an open site somewhere, then post that url with the URL button (it shows when you post here.)

[Bob Sacchi]

As promised....



(This photo was from the 1950 article in the International Musician, "Tuba Players in our Bands and Orchestras")

Bob

[J Stowe]

TJ, I can't help but think of picture having the caption "So Easy, a Caveman Can Play It." Nothing but love, though.