The Alto Tuba

[Timswisstuba]

Alto tuba 1.jpg

Hey Guys,

The time has come to bring out the alto tuba in Eb made by Hirsbrunner. I was not the one who painted flowers on it.

The discussion on the differences between bass trombone in F and Contrabass trombone in F made me post this. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36971&start=12" target="_blank

Would you classify this as a tuba?

[Bob Kolada]

And what imagined differences are there between this and an alto horn?

Is that "Hisrbrunner" from Sumiswald or Ulm...?

At least you didn't type "Hirschbrunner."

[Ken Herrick]

Now you see why you should NEVER leave your tuba out in the rain then put it in the drier!

You might still be able to get it restored to Bb tenor tuba size if you are very careful with a tuba stretcher.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Would you classify this as a tuba?

Might do -- would depend on the conical-to-cylindrical tubing ratio. It looks like it might be (essentially) an upright Eb alto flugelhorn, with mostly conical-bore tubing, which (as I understand things) would put it in the flugelhorn-euphonium-tuba family. An alto horn, on the other hand (again, AIUT), would be in the cornet-alto horn-tenor horn-baritone "in-between family". How's it play?

[Timswisstuba]

Is that "Hisrbrunner" from Sumiswald or Ulm...?

Hirsbrunner from Aarau, Switzerland. A really distant (200 years) relative of Peter Hirsbrunner. The company stopped making instruments in the 1960's. I would guess that this instrument was made in the 1920's.

[Timswisstuba]

The horn is leaky and needs to be restored so it doesn't play very well at the moment. I will restore it soon.

The tubing is conical and proportional to that of a tuba.

[iiipopes]

COOL!

[Kevin Hendrick]

The tubing is conical and proportional to that of a tuba.

Sounds like an alto tuba to me -- congratulations!

[Timswisstuba]

The Sumiswald branch seems to have sadly ceased production as well.

The Sumiswald Hirsbrunners have not stopped making tubas. I was in Sumiswald last week and spoke to Peter Hirsbrunner and it seemed he had enough work for two years. I'm sure a Hirsbrunner tuba can still be ordered.

[Timswisstuba]

Peter Hirsbrunner Jr. is very strong willed and I doubt that he would ever sell the company. I asked him if I could buy Hirsbrunner stock and he said the business is only owned by the family.

I too, would like to see this company in business for another 200 years.

[MDORVAL]

Tim and LJV,
This is really good news !!!
I did sent an e-mail to Peter about 1 month ago as if I was going to sell my Yorkbrunner, I wanted may be to buy a smaller CC tuba (like a HB-21) and indeed, he told me exactly what he told you Tim. He said that he was going through a tough time but was in the process to fix it. He was open to sell me a horn and gave me a quote on a HB-21 & HB-6.
I think about the same as you as his horns, especially the CC tubas, are the best. I'm extremely happy not having sold my York.
I think he might stop exporting tuba in USA and concentrate to European market, as it is too competitive overhere (this is just a personal opinion), as knowing that Custom Music Corp can't get any anymore !!!!
He might does what Rudy Meinl does, in concentrating his market to Europe and Asia !!!
You're lucky Tim as if I would be living in Switzerland, I would buy all my horns from him.

Nice alto tuba and it looks more like a tuba as an alto horn as a different tubing configuration,

Happy Holidays guys,