Picture of Mr. Bell

[Ken Herrick]

I can't swear to total accuracy here, but I recall one of the first 'method' books I ever studied was titled something like "The complete Method for BBb Bass" by Wm Bell. There was also a version for Eb bass. This would have been published in the early 50s or earlier and as I recall it was put out by Belwin. It had a brown cover with such a photo. I'm pretty sure that book would have still been in my collection which I sold to a young player in Brisbane 7 or 8 years ago.

Possibly there would be a copy in Harvey Phillip's library. Somebody might be able to find it at the Tuba Ranch. Bill was a fair bit younger in that photo than the later publication with his King in the photo. Brian Frederiksen could probably tell a story about that more recent photo. If you get a hold of one and have a close look you can see Harvey Phillips reflection in the bell. I think there was actually a thread about that in tubenet about 2000/01.

It would have been in 65 that Bill was doing a concert as guest soloist with a high school band in a northern Chicago suburb that I saw him using the Martin. I had a high pitch one at one time - made a great Bydlo horn after just a touch of a cut with the high G# open.

[Dean E]

Bill Bell with four-rotary valve tuba. Source: Foundation to Tuba and Sousaphone Playing, An Elementary Method [Cover], A Complete Method [Inside Title Page], for the Eb, C, and Bb Tubas, With Instructions for their practical uses in Bands, Symphony, Dance, and Jazz Orchestras, p. 7, Carl Fisher (1931).

The OP was discussing a 3 + 1 Martin Eb tuba. Someone will have to identify this particular instrument, please.

[Art Hovey]

That's his King CC.

http://galvanizedjazz.com/tuba.html

[Ken Herrick]

Yes, that is the same.

[Frank Ortega]

I don't think Martin actually used the term Monster. Their designation for the usual Monster size tuba was Renowned. Mammoth was the designation for the 6/4 tubas and sousas. I'm not sure what the designation for the smaller Ebs were. I'm sure someone else could chime in with that.

Frank

[jonesbrass]

FWIW, I have the 1975 edition of the Complete Method for Tuba and Sousaphone that I bought new, and the horn Mr. Bell's pictured with in it is a smaller 4V rotary horn that looks European. My recent copy of the Foundation book also has a picture of him holding the King rotary. I'd like to see a picture of him with the Martin.

I believe I have a copy of that edition, too. It is a Cerveny.

[mshores]

Here are the two from my ancient copy.

[Paul Scott]

Standby for a lot of information!:

A Martin catalogue from ca. 1914 lists the following models:

The Renowned Medium Eb Bass with a 17" bell
The Renowned Monster Eb Bass with a 20" bell
The Renowned Monster Eb Helicon with a 20" bell
The Renowned BBb bass with a 20" bell
The Mammoth BBb Bass with a 23" bell
The Mammoth BBb Helicon with a 22" bell
The Monster Helicon BBb bass (sousaphone model with a bell-up or "raincatcher" design) with a 23" bell

All tubas were available in either top or side action, with a 4th valve option. AND all instruments were available with piston or rotary valves.

Another Martin catalogue from about 1925 lists these:

Eb Medium Upright, 17" bell
Eb Monster Upright, 20" bell
BBb Medium Upright, 20" bell
BBb Mammoth Upright, 23" bell
Eb Medium Helicon, 17" bell
Eb Monster Helicon, 20" bell
BBb Medium Helicon, 20" bell
BBb Mammoth Helcon, 23" bell
Eb Sousaphone Belll Up,17" bell
Eb Monster Sousaphone Bell-Up, 20" bell
BBb Medium Sousaphone Bell Up, 20" bell
BBb Mammoth Sousaphone Bell Up, 23" bell

Bell-front sousaphones built in the following sizes:
Monster Eb- 22 or 24" bell
Medium BBb- 22 or 24" bell
Mammoth BBb-24, 26, 28 or 30" bell

Recording bell tubas came along at this time and were offered as:
Recording Model BBb or Eb (my BBb has a 20" Bell)
Recording Model BBb (Large Size) (mine have either a 24" or 30" bell)

All tubas were available in top or side action.

Confusing enough? There's more!

The smallest Martins (the Renowned-Medium Ebs), had a bore of about .620" .

The middle size tubas (Monster Ebs, Renowned-Medium BBbs, and Recording Models in Eb and BBb) had a bore of about .680"

The largest size tubas (Mammoth and Large Size Recording Models, all in BBb) had a bore of about .712". (No kiddies, not .730" as is often stated). And let's not even get into high pitch and low pitch models.....

The 3+1 Eb that is mentioned (NOT the one in the photo with Mr. Bell which seems to be a 3-valve) is the Renowned Medium Eb Bass. I own one of these and every one that I've seen has been a) in silver and b) a military instrument. Must've made a bunch of them for WWI. I'll be posting soon about how to bring the pitch up on the sometimes rather flat Low-Pitch models that come up from time to time.

I have a feeling that Mr. Bell might not have actually played the horns he is pictured with in these early photos. The late Saul Kay often relayed to me an expression that Mr. Bell used: "I wouldn't give a three-valved tuba garage room." There is also a history regarding Mr. Bell and "borrowed tubas for photo sessions" as in the famous "Martin LP cover story").

It would make sense to me that Mr. Bell played a Martin Eb later on in his life, (it is a well-known fact that he soloed on a King Eb sousaphone). I'd also love to see a picture of Mr. Bell with the 3+1 Martin Eb!

[TheHatTuba]

The Renowned Monster Eb Bass with a 29" bell

Whoa.....

[Paul Scott]

Sorry-that should have read "20" bell" and I've corrected the original post. That would have been a Monster Eb, indeed!

[Paul Scott]

Dang, I'm having a bad day posting this information! The bells size for the Eb Monster with upright bell is 20". The Monster Eb sousa in bell-front offered bells of 22" or 24" and I've corrected the list once again. I should note that Martin (and other makers) mixed and matched many horn/bell configurations. For instance, I have a 4-valve Mammoth BBb sousa with a 23 inch bell which isnt' even listed as an option for any forward bell!