Last attempt to get this tuba playing!

[Trevor Bjorklund]

Dear TubeNet Community,

Does anyone know where I might find some parts for this Walter Sear De Prins BBb?

WS_Front_sm.jpg

It needs a valve cap, a thumb ring (which is adjustable), and a mouthpipe. Without these parts, it seems silly to do any of the cosmetic stuff the horn could use. The pistons are in great shape (I have the 4th in a box), the horn is more-or-less clean and should eventually play.

This is unconfirmed, but I have been told that the valve cap has a special threading (that is is neither metric nor standard).
I thought I had a line on some of these parts but it never happened. It's getting to the point where if I don't either get it up and running or ditch it, I'm going to find its sawed-off bell in bed with me instead of my wife!

Any tips/ideas would be great. Thanks.

[bububassboner]

The thumb ring should be fairly simple. I think Kanstul makes one that fill fit inside that lyre holder. Or better yet just order a new ring from any company and solder it on. You might be able to use an allied universal pipe and just cut it short to work as a replacement. As for the valve cap, if it is really something different for the thread talk to someone like Dan Oberloh about making a new one. Bet if you sent him one that you have he could copy it pretty easily. I think you could easily fix this horn up. Cool looking horn too.

[thezman]

Pm sent

[Bandmaster]

Does anyone know where I might find some parts for this Walter Sear De Prins BBb?
It needs a valve cap, a thumb ring (which is adjustable), and a mouthpipe.

If you are willing to pay for it, ask Dan Oberloh to make a valve cap. Just send him one of the good ones and he can copy it on his lathe. Same with the mouthpipe, he can duplicate that too. But maybe a leadpipe from an old Conn tuba would work too? I'm sure it doesn't have to be an exact copy of the original thumb ring, does it? There are lots of thumb rongs that could work.

[Trevor Bjorklund]

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping that someone might possibly have the parts lying around in a forgotten box but it looks like I'll eventually have to go the fabrication route (for the valve cap, at least). Or pass it on to the next enthusiastic, more-space/patience-than-me-having tubist!

If anyone has a burning desire to take on this horn or is in a similar situation (needs hard-to-find parts), p.m. me

[Gilligan]

Take some good pictures of the valve cap and get them posted. I believe that the Conn company made a bunch of the parts for that horn and you may be able to find a match from an old Conn or Pan American doner horn.