Tuba production in the U.S.

[Rick Denney]

I don't think Conn-Selmer still makes any tubas under the Conn brand, and their most recent model, the 56J, was made in the King factory in Eastlake (using King parts, for that matter). Conn-branded sousaphones have been Kings for a while now. No tubas have issued forth from Elkhart in a while, even if the factory is still open.

Holton was making the Phillips model for a while, but I think that production has ceased.

Thus, I am reasonably sure that tuba manufacture in the U.S. is down to Kanstul and King.

Rick "thinking Kanstul is de facto successor to several revered American brands" Denney

[Dan Schultz]

The Conn 20K is still in production at the Eastlake plant. As Rick noted... all of the Conn tubas (except the 52J) and sousaphones have been dropped. Even though some are still branded 'Conn'... they are actually Kings. I think the 5J is still in the retail line-up but don't know if it's current production or just old stock that's being sold.

[bort]

Though hardly a production line, Sam Gnagey still "makes" tubas here in the US.

[Rick Denney]

Though hardly a production line, Sam Gnagey still "makes" tubas here in the US.

There are several who, like Sam, are creating new tubas out of old parts, but little is being manufacturered in those cases and I didn't think they were relevant to the question. Now, if someone was creating their own bells and bows from sheet stock and buying valve machines from another maker, I would include them as manufacturers.

Rick "not the same thing..." Denney

[iiipopes]

I'm pretty sure there is still a difference between the King and Conn Sousas- the 20K's still have the short stroke valves-Kings have normal ones. Last time I checked, the Conn 5J is still listed on their website and I'm assuming the 52J and 56J are the Kings branded as Conns.

The Conn 20K's are basically the same as they always have been. The fiberblasters are of the King make and valve block, and have the decal du jour on the bell as it comes off the assembly line.

[jacojdm]

The current price list from Conn Selmer has the following info - Tubas MTS (Made To Stock) are as follows; Holton BB430R Holton BB450 King 1135W King 1140W Conn 5JW Holton BB460 King 2341 Listed as MTO (Made To Order) are the following; Conn 12J King 2340 Holton BB440R
I'm guessing that the Holton models have taken their place in line at the Eastlake plant, since the Holton facilities have been closed.

The Holton tubas are imported.