Calling Helicon Experts

[SousaSaver]

Helicons are most commonly in Eb. There exist BBb and F models, but Eb seems to be the most common.

Design wise, Helicons are basically Sousaphones. Look at old Conn Helicons and you will see. The key difference is curved branch that would lead to the bell socket. Add that curved piece and a straight bell and now you have a "rain catcher." Use a front facing bell and now you have a Sousaphone. Conn Helicons and Sousaphones use the same valve cluster design.

This seems to be true with American made models, I don't really know much about European Helicons.

Check out this link
http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php ... Helicon%22" target="_blank

[DonShirer]

I played an Eb helicon in high school and didn't notice much difference between its output and a sousaphone's.

By the way, M&M makes a CC Sousaphone with a conversion valve to BBb. There is one listed on e*buy* now. Could a helicon be far behind?

[Donn]

I noticed that Amati makes an Bb,Eb, and F helicon. Are these good. F helicon's didn't seem very popular (in numbers) in my searches.

There is lots of stuff to be found here on most of your questions, with a little searching. On this point - the Czech Amati/Cerveny/etc. F helicon is a different wrap from the Eb, it's an oval shape that doubles back, where the Eb circles around. That works a lot better - the hand position on the F isn't as tight, and the whole thing rests more securely on your shoulder.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Helicons were made in alto voicing-Eb, Tenor/Baritone in Bb, and from small to massive Bass in Eb. You will see many military band photos from Spanish American War and WW I with helicons.
mark

[1895King]

I have lots of Indian Wars era band photos with helicons, especially cavalry bands. There is one photo of the band storage room at Fort Riley, KS, that has a whole set of different size helicons on the walls. There is also one that shows the mounted band with this entire set.

[Tom Beck II]

For a few months now I've been playing a great WeltKlang SN 108883 4 rotary valve Eb Helicon I got from Bloke. He added a 5th rotary valve from a Conn that comes off the 4th valve and extends the low range. The instrument is estimated to have been made in the mid 1970's and is stamped "Made in GDP. Bloke also installed a horizontal bar parallel with the finger pads to use as a hand rest to make fingering easier.
Being an Eb instrument it is a pretty tight fit for a full size adult. Apparently it was used by a youth band in East Germany in its hayday. Slight angle modification had to be done to get the lead pipes and mouthpiece lined up with my lips and the valve linkage uses the model airplane miniball sets that work just fine. I'm currently working up the Oboe Concerto in F by Vivaldi with woodwind quartet and having lots of fun with it. I guess I should try and find a Mao hat to be legit.
Tom

[Ace]

For a few months now I've been playing a great WeltKlang SN 108883 4 rotary valve Eb Helicon I got from Bloke. He added a 5th rotary valve from a Conn that comes off the 4th valve and extends the low range. The instrument is estimated to have been made in the mid 1970's and is stamped "Made in GDP. Bloke also installed a horizontal bar parallel with the finger pads to use as a hand rest to make fingering easier.
Being an Eb instrument it is a pretty tight fit for a full size adult. Apparently it was used by a youth band in East Germany in its hayday. Slight angle modification had to be done to get the lead pipes and mouthpiece lined up with my lips and the valve linkage uses the model airplane miniball sets that work just fine. I'm currently working up the Oboe Concerto in F by Vivaldi with woodwind quartet and having lots of fun with it. I guess I should try and find a Mao hat to be legit.
Tom

Here you go, Tom------a genuine Mao hat to make you legit.

[Dan Schultz]

I've had a few original helicons but was never totally satisfied with them. It's almost like the early manufacturers didn't get around to fully prototyping them and just figured a way to use parts they already had. So... I just built my own version....

[ken k]

here is a previous helicon thread that you may find useful....

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35163&hilit=helicon" target="_blank


old Conn, Pan American and Buescher BBb helicons seem to have a following.

ken k

[David Richoux]

Always a good idea to "snag" a few of the images of interesting old horns that turn up on eBay - they don't hang around much after the item sells! Depending on your computer, it usually only takes a few clicks to download and save the image. A lot of oddities turn up over on Horn-u-copia but there are many more that are missed...
(I am not suggesting copyright violations - just historical preservation )

[Tom Coffey]

I have a Conn helicon in BBb that I used a fair amount for parades, dixie, and German Bands. It played a lot like a sousaphone, but was better balanced and not as heavy. It sounded just like a Conn BBb upright. These are still around and actually not hard to find.

[Dan Schultz]

Some time ago I posted a few notices regarding two (very) old helicons and three (pretty) old sousaphones I had available for sale.

The sousaphones have all found a home but the Helicons are still waiting. I wanted to repost updated information in the interest of finding the right match.

.....

For the information of the forum... I purchased both of these helicons last week. They now reside in Newburgh, Indiana. I have no special plans for them at the moment but this will most likely turn out to be a 'keep one, sell one' situation once I have them cleaned up and playing well.

The Conn looks like the horn I played in the Naval Communication Training Command Band at Corry Field, Pensacola back in the mid-sixties. I wonder if that horn is still there.