Let's talk Alto Horns!

[bearphonium]

I'm with LJV, I don't think that is enough tubing to change it to Bb. I played something similar in HS which had the tuning slide tune from Eb to F, and it was twice as big as that.

[David Richoux]

I don't think that other slide is long enough to bring it all the way down to Bb. Agree it is more likely it is a high pitch - low pitch choice. Are there position markings on the other slides? Sometimes there will also be a letter indication if it is a full key change.

I have been playing my old (1920s?) King Alto a lot in the last few years (in my "fun band") and it is quite an interesting horn. The range is much more than I thought it had at first. It is still not an easy horn to jam with all the time, but it is a good change up from BBb tuba.

[imperialbari]

With alto horns the pitch alternatives hardly ever were Eb and Bb. They rather were F and Eb. The latter reflecting the preferred pitch of post-CW-era/early-Sousa alto parts. The former reflecting their usage as horn substitutes in marching bands, hence playing from F parts.

I have taken down quite a few of Sousa marches in the form of sets of parts from the US-LOC web facility. I am not going through them again right now, but from my memory the shift from Eb to F alto parts happens between 1900 and 1920.

However the other posters are right that the difference in length between the two slides of your alto is quite small. Not even enough for a change between F and Eb. It is an HP/LP thing, withe the LP slide sitting in the horn at the photo.

Gonna give it to Sparky or the Mad Dog for home duetting?

Klaus

[Tom Coffey]

When I was in High School, french horn players used these in marching band. I "retired" from being a high school band director in 1984 to go to law school, and I haven't really kept up with the trends. Do many high schools still use these?

[TubadudeCA]

I've got an 1936 H.N. White "King" Alto Horn. It plays amazingly! I've used it in a few trad jazz jams when I've gotten tired of sitting in the back of the band haha Peck horns are great instruments that are under utilized in the US (IMHO)