Buescher Sousa Caps Project & Pic's

[Tundratubast]

Help, I'm needing to locate a set, one pair,(top/bottom caps)for a 1935ish Buescher tuba/sousaphone, in brass. I'll attach photo's to this post. If you have a set you could live without, I'd greatly appreciate it. It's for a project I'm doing here at Red Wing BIR, and time is becoming critical. I'll post some photos of the project later if all goes well, Thanks.

Best Regards,
David

http://cid-6fd8e7f6538d382a.skydrive.li ... PrdgQSo6Wk$" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Dan Schultz]

Can you take a precision measurement of the inside diameter of the threads and post it?

I have lots of 'odds & ends'.

[Tundratubast]

Measurements; Yep, I'll go do it now, Actually had thought about, than a senior moment hit.

[Tundratubast]

Measurements,

cap i.d. approx. 1.195"; with a 40 tpi

Also need a large Buescher valve button, if anyone has one.

Thanks

[Tundratubast]

Thanks Joe & Dan,
Okay, heres is what I've got going on. I've added a 4th piston to a 1935 Buescher FA Eb. The donor piston is from a Conn 14K, but, it has two top caps. The "chimney/nipple" on the Conn cap is significantly taller, and are dramatically different cosmetically than the original Bueschers. The caps seem to be interchangeable size-wise. Any questions regarding clarification are welcome greatly appreciated.

Dave

[Dan Schultz]

I think I might have what you crave. I've attached a picture. The two caps on the left appear identical to the pics you posted. The one in the middle is also what I think is a Buescher cap except it has cross-hatch instead of knurling. The two caps on the right are plain old Conn 14K caps.

Where do I need to send them?

[Dan Schultz]

warning: double negative within

I've never encountered any Buescher caps from that era that were not cross-hatched. I'm wondering if all of the caps that you already have (which are fitting) might be Conn caps?

Methinks Joe might be correct. I've never parted out a Buescher tuba or sousa and can't imagine where those caps I pictured came from unless it might have been from an old Conn 32K or similar.

[Tundratubast]

Well, I do agree with Dan that the two on the left, do indeed match those that I currently for three of the four casing. None of the caps I have illustrate the cross-hatch pattern. So to err on the side of consistency, I'd go with the match. Keeping them consistent will help in the porting, The taller chimney of the Conn's 14K style adds to other issues in the porting of the new #4.

I did go back and cross checked the fit of both caps to the others casing and they both fit each other. So apparently, at that time, the clusters were probably being made by someone company for both Conn & Buescher. Or, the originals have been lost, and these fit as replacements.

Thanks to all for your support and assistance on the search, Dan check you PM.

[Tundratubast]

The Buescher Eb project;

Initial pic's: http://tinypic.com/a/2lhxs/3" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

As a three valve, broken down, bottom bow cap done w/ replacement wires, 3v w/ 4th valve waiting patiently. The two bell pegs were made by me, one for my Holton, the other a universal size, fit all others w/ padding.

Current status, 4th valve has been married to the 3v, 1st tuning slide switched to a top pull, 3rd slide has both top and bottom slide pull, 4th will also have both. I also have a rotor (as a 5th) to be added after the main tuning slide which is also being moved from the lead-pipe to after the valve cluster.

I'm calling this my "Ignorance is Bliss" project. I didn't know, I shouldn't be doing this now, project. I'll post more pic's next week, I'm reattaching the cluster, on Monday, and laying out the 4th loop and trying to plan the main tuning slide and 5th rotor. All being done as an before and after class project. Class projects are French Horns and trombones. I hear I missed an enjoyable time at NAPBIRT convention, that's okay, time was well spent on this project.

Later

[Gilligan]

In 1927 Carl Greenleaf the CEO of Conn purchased Buescher or consolidated the Pan American Company with it. They definitly shared valve blocks and other parts between the brands.

[Tundratubast]

Dan, I received the caps the other day and they match and fit perfectly. Thank you very much for your support, Joe, thanks for your observation on those being probable Conn's makes sense even from 1935is. Project is going well. Time is running short, school is done May 10th, No stress. And then no tools!

[Dan Schultz]

Dan, I received the caps the other day and they match and fit perfectly. Thank you very much for your support....

Glad I could help.