Old Conn Tuba - looking for info

[JPMYNWA]

Just in time for Tubachristmas, I acquired 2 tubas to add to my low brass collection. Prior to this, I was mostly a Bass-bone/euphonium player, but i was hoping to branch out in this direction. The pics I will post below are of an OLD Conn Eb tuba that is part of a pair that I acquired through a substitute teacher at my wife's school. He was hoping to sell them to the band program, but her school has all the tubas they need and little by way of funds right now, but my wonderful wife thought of me. Here's what i know about it, and I was hoping some of you could fill in a few blanks for me.
It is a small Eb tuba
It is engraved "Made by CG Conn Elkhart Ind."
The Serial # is 37XX - Only 4 digits, which makes me think OLD but I haven't gotten to look into it yet
It has a Valve section design I've never seen before. It's hard to see in the pics, but there are no bottom valve caps. The tubing comes out of the bottom of the valve, and loops around to enter the side of the next one.
Valve are really skinny like baritone valves.
It has a Wavy "w" shaped tuning slide, which I've heard means something in the Low/high pitch thing.
Ok... That's about it. If I think of more, I'll add it. Here are the pics:
Front View

Conn1.jpg

3rd Valve side of the Valve section - Note the valve casing just continues downward into tubing

conn4.jpg

Bell Engraving

conn3.jpg

I've never seen anything like this valve design before. Any thoughts on what i have here?
Thanks in advance.
Comment away!

JPMYNWA

[tubaguy9]

Dude...I am green with envy!
Awesome horn, I am just fascinated by horns made in that time period.
What you have is Stoëlzel valves, a very primitive valve system that predates any other instrument valve.
All I can say...awesome horn!

[GC]

According to the Conn Loyalist serial number chart, the horn dates from 1879. Dude.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Congratulations--a Very rare horn. Conn made stoelzel valve instruments c. 1879 for Eb tubas, helicons, and valve trombones (I believe Conn only put these valves on low brass instruments). I know of a couple Eb Conns with these valves. The National Music Museum in South Dakota has examples and would be very interested in info on this horn. I think Mike Lynch also has examples of this in his collection. I did own one several years ago but sold it --didn't play very well--very leaky valves--typical of stoelzel valve sets--on cornets, when they have stoelzel valves, they are known as 'cornopeans'--or 'cornet-a-piston'....

Here is a pic of one of the Eb tubas from a collector's website:

http://metzlerbrass.com/resources/Conn+ ... tuba+2.jpg" target="_blank

Here is the patent-1881--after the horns were made--for Conn for these valves--also courtesy of a collector's website and research:

http://metzlerbrass.com/resources/patent+249$2C012.jpg" target="_blank

If you want to sell this, PM me!

Regards-

Mark Jones

[iiipopes]

Yes. How does it play?

[bisontuba]

Hi-
More info and pics added above-enjoy!
mark

[Tom Coffey]

Never saw that before!
The "w" tuning slide replaced the original, which was probably an ordiary "u" shape. The w is a little longer--they did this to bring it down to modern (low) pitch so it can play with modern horns. I have a 1904 York with the same device.
What a cool tuba!!

[JPMYNWA]

Thanks for all the info so far. I doubt I'm ready to sell it yet because I just got it, but I will at lest consider it if someone wants to make an offer. If so pm me and we'll talk.
Thanks!
JPMYNWA

[Gilligan]

That serial dates it to about the time when Eugene Dupont was designing horns for Conn. Shame that horn can't talk!