Buescher Tuba Help

[2GBTG]

I traded an old Yamaha acoustic guitar for a Buescher Eb tuba on Tuesday and i hoped the fine folks here could help date it. My poor googleing skills turned up little help with serial numbers. I'll post some poor quality Iphone pics, but they most likely won't help.

Picture link http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa4 ... chen/TUBA/

Bell engraving reads "The Buescher Elkhart Ind."

2nd Valve engraving read " True Tone Trade Mark Registered"
Also has serial number 34748
Above the bell engraving is and additional engraving that reads "USQMC
Also appears to use a Euro shank mouth piece.
The first valve also has a shorter valve button post.

Any thoughts?

Kitchen

[eupher61]

1917. Probably mid-year. USQMC = Quarter Master Corps. Military. Quite common.

probably a very cool tuba. Possibly a lot of parts will interchange with Conn. You probably got the better end of your swap.

[imperialbari]

Never was common, yet seen before here on TN: the leadpipe going to the 2nd piston, from where the airpath goes to the 1st piston and then via a tubing bypassing the 2nd piston casing goes to the 3rd piston.

I am sure it has been told of, but I forgot the purpose of this nonstandard airpath. Please tell!

Klaus

PS: Isn’t the difference in stem lengths a matter of missing corks/felts?

[eupher61]

The QuarterMaster engraving is common.

[2GBTG]

Indeed there was an additional cork felt on the first valve. I took one off, but it is still shorter. So I took off an additional felt. Still ever so slightly shorter than the 2nd and 3rd valve despite having now 1 cork to their 2 corks.

I most likely will be putting this up for trade soon as I play BBb and will be hoping some one has a BBb lying around that they would trade for the Eb.

Kitchen

[Highpitch]

Corks under the caps & buttons are how the valves are timed.

Moving or changing them around will affect performance.

Uniform height is not the desired result, but comes from proper manufacture.

DG