continued alteration of 2165

[Art Hovey]

I do not pretend for a moment to be qualified even to sweep the floor of Bloke's shop, but I do have one small suggestion. When I work on a tuning slide like that one (but only on a junk tuba) I always move the water key to the other side, leaving the drain hole where it is. That re-positioning has two advantages, in my opinion:
First, I learned the hard way many years ago that pushing a tuning slide in by pressing my hand firmly up against the water key can cave in the curved tubing. Moving the water key away from the bottom of the bow eliminates that risk.
Second, the water key in its present location is convenient for the right hand, but I use my right hand to work the valves. Moving it over makes it easier to reach by the left hand, enabling me to dump soup "on the fly". (Not on my fly.)

[k001k47]

Cool stuff!

[imperialbari]

The second last Russian czar was an enthusiastic brass amateur. He was given a circular flugelhorn with a 4th valve somewhat like this one added. It could turn freely with no stops. I was set into rotation by a sort of sprung clockwork and provided the playing with a steady vibrato.

bloke still has the option of mounting a small electrical motor operating according to remote control (I am sure bloke knows how to operate guitar style pedals).

That would allow for the alleged pitch corrections, but also for accelerated, steady, and decelerated vibratos. And it will have one extra major expressive feature over the czar’s clockwork valve: it may switch between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation for a more specific expression of your musical message.

K

[The Big Ben]

And have it all powered by compressed air.

[MartyNeilan]

Joe,
As you continue to get your 2165 tightened up and tricked out, do you foresee using your Thor less and less as the big horn becomes more versatile?

[MartyNeilan]

Marty,
5/4 has become the new 4/4...

That's what I keep telling my bathroom scale

[imperialbari]

The gigantic "stock" mouthpipe (which I removed and stuck in my sock drawer) has a small-end (tremendous!) bore size of c. .615".

I can only imagine what Mrs. Bloke will think when she finds that big, old thing in your sock drawer...

Nothing obscene:



Or for feeding an old man.