engraving on a MW 32

[keegan watson]

Hi all,
I recently bought an old Meinl Weston 32 CC tuba! As I was looking over the horn I noticed an engraving under the rim of the bell. I think it may have had a silver ring that went around the bell but it is no longer there and this is in the area where that ring would go. The engraving is simple the number 36, and I was curious if anyone out there knew what it would mean. It is in line with the place where you would hook a strap to the horn ( near the lead pipe). Like I mentioned the horn is older, it was made when Getzen was the distributer of Meinl Weston tubas in the states. I'm sorry I don't have pictures up right now but they are on their way. Any info would be interesting to know!
Cheers,
Keegan

[Dan Schultz]

Hi all,
I recently bought an old Meinl Weston 32 CC tuba! As I was looking over the horn I noticed an engraving under the rim of the bell. I think it may have had a silver ring that went around the bell but it is no longer there and this is in the area where that ring would go. The engraving is simple the number 36, and I was curious if anyone out there knew what it would mean. It is in line with the place where you would hook a strap to the horn ( near the lead pipe). Like I mentioned the horn is older, it was made when Getzen was the distributer of Meinl Weston tubas in the states. I'm sorry I don't have pictures up right now but they are on their way. Any info would be interesting to know!
Cheers,
Keegan

The Getzen/Meinl tubas I've seen have had numbers rather sloppily engraved on the 2nd rotor casing. None of of the 20 or 25 Meinls or a Meinl 33 I've had ever had a garland on the bell. I don't have a clue what that '36' on your horn means unless it's just an assembly referrence number. Maybe others can offer more information.

[keegan watson]

Here are some pictures of the horn and bell where the engraving is as well as a picture of the engraving. Sorry for the quality this was the best I could get at the time.

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll13 ... on_photos/" target="_blank
Like I said any information would be awesome!
Cheers,
Keegan

[Jack Tilbury]

I've never seen that on a MW 32 either. I have one that I bought new in 1968, and I'm guessing that yours is probably not quite as old as mine. (My serial number is C5104) The Army Band bought six 32's in the early 70's, mostly because everyone liked mine. They looked very similar to the horn in your photos, but none had numbers under the bell like that. My teacher in college owned a 32 that actually did have a silver ring around the bell, similar to what you'd see on a mirafone, but that must have been dropped prior to 1968.