helicon

[Karituba]

Looking for any information on this helicon. There are no markings on the instrument, no serial number. It might be of French origin.

http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/karit ... 3.jpg.html

[Karituba]

Not the same helicon. Should have also mentioned that the bell measures 21 inches and there is no brace for the bell. I played this helicon today and it sits on the outer part of the shoulder.

[eupher61]

The leadpipe angle isn't the same. Wrong again, Ian


Kari, there is a brace on the horn in your picture...

Those look like Martin bits.

[Donn]

Striking resemblance, though.

The weirdest thing about the original helicon is, to my eye, the bell flare isn't square with the bell. Like maybe 10° right at the flare, with no "elbow". Maybe just a photo rendering issue.

[Heavy_Metal]

Valium.............

[Karituba]

Here are a couple more photos

http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/karit ... ry/?page=1

This helicon belonged to a friend of mine. He passed away last year and his widow is looking at selling it and any information will help. It was serviced by Kevin Powers who thought it might be French.

[Karituba]

HOLY CRAP!

Here's TWO MORE!




AND ONE WITH ROTARY VALVES!


WOW!

They all kind of look the same! The ONLY DIFFERENCE is the LEADPIPE/MOUTHPIPE! WOW!

I think the middle helicon is the same horn!!!! Any information?????

[imperialbari]

My immediate take on the valve block wrap of the OP's helicon is that it is European. But then the countries making piston helicons here, France, Belgium, and the UK, are not known to make helicon with bells that huge.

The bell shape is rare anyway, but in Europe it is mostly known from some Russian and a few Czech helicons with rotary valves.

Could it be an old American helicon from before the present Conn-type wrap became standard?

Klaus

[Bandmaster]

But the big question we want to know.....

How well do they play? Or are they just interesting looking POS?

[Karituba]

I played it yesterday... Easy blowing, but hard to "splatt". I was using my PT-42. It was extremely difficult to play on my shoulder. It sat on the outside part of my shoulder as opposed my sousaphone shoulder callus. The biggest issue is tuning. I will entertain any suggestions for selling price.

[pjv]

The "middle" picture which seems to have had a replacement neck section is a Rudolph Wurlitzer "Symphony" made in Cincinnati.

Good luck
Pat

[Karituba]

The helicon does not appear to be in tune with itself. The bottom Bb and C are really sharp, but the F and the Bb, in the staff, are OK. I have this same problem with my Conn Eb. The lower notes just need some tweaking, either by finding the correct tuning slide set up or by lipping the pitch.

[Donn]

It's somewhat to be expected, I think. I mean, could be a leak somewhere or something, but I believe the informed acousticians among us could probably predict intonation issues with a `Kaiser' profile like this. Something about the discrepancy between axial length and wall length.