In view of the CC/BBb slide conversion thread, I have a somewhat related question. My question relates to a Mellophone which I bought but haven't yet received. It has a rotor valve which moves the horn from F down to Eb, but there is a separate set of much longer slides in the bottom of the case. Inserting the long slides moves the mellophone down to what pitch? D? C? I know some of you old timers and expert repair guys will have an answer. Here's a link to photos of the horn. (Hope the link works.)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-KING-2-KEY- ... 7C294%3A50" target="_blank
More on conversion slides
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Ace
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Dan Schultz
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Re: More on conversion slides
Some of those old mellophones would play is lots of different pitches (almost!). When shifting from Eb to F, you move the rotor and pull the valve circuit slides out to a mark. My guess is that the change slides you have will put the horn in Bb. The largest slide replaces the slide with the rotor in it, and the other three replace the valve circuit slides.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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David Richoux
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Re: More on conversion slides
I think your horn is just F and Eb - the longer slides are swapped in when you play in Eb. I have several old Mells - one that has two multiple position rotor switches - I can put the horn in F, Eb, A, and D (as I recall - they are not marked.) The valve slides are not marked, so I have to tune by ear.
One of my other Mells came with 4 choices of main tuning slides (F, Eb, D and G) and the 3 valve slides have several marked tuning lines and there are a few extra longer valve slides.
A lot of inventions going on in the Mell Department! Upon re-looking at the auction photos, I tend to agree with TubaTinker, but without a mark on the extra tuning slide I could not guess what key it would get you. The photos are not clear enough.
One of my other Mells came with 4 choices of main tuning slides (F, Eb, D and G) and the 3 valve slides have several marked tuning lines and there are a few extra longer valve slides.
A lot of inventions going on in the Mell Department! Upon re-looking at the auction photos, I tend to agree with TubaTinker, but without a mark on the extra tuning slide I could not guess what key it would get you. The photos are not clear enough.
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Mike-ICR
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Re: More on conversion slides
As usual, TubaTinker has the answer. The extra slide is far too long to be for Eb, D or C and it looks too short to be for A. Bb is the only answer, you use the longer valve slides when the Bb slide is in.
These horns were made as 'doublers'. Of course, alto voice band music up to the mid 1900s was written for either Eb or F (when Eb 'Peck' horns and mellos were popular). King felt a good horn player should be a well prepared horn player. I'm not sure that the players agreed.
The idea behind the Bb conversion kit was so the horn player could read and cover the tenor voice if needed (baritone/euph/t-bone when they were written in Bb TC).
These horns were made as 'doublers'. Of course, alto voice band music up to the mid 1900s was written for either Eb or F (when Eb 'Peck' horns and mellos were popular). King felt a good horn player should be a well prepared horn player. I'm not sure that the players agreed.
The idea behind the Bb conversion kit was so the horn player could read and cover the tenor voice if needed (baritone/euph/t-bone when they were written in Bb TC).