New To List. Frank Holton 4V Sousaphone Value?

[imperialbari]

Are there more photos available than the 3 on the first page?

I see some conclusions, which I would find hard to make from just these said 3 photos.

Klaus

[Oceantuba]

[quote="Rick Denney"]...


The instrument is in really good condition, it seems to me, even with the stuck fourth valve. I'm surprised the instrument could play at all with the fourth valve halfway down, though. The stem looks bent to me and I suspect that it was bumped on something--it is in a vulnerable position--and could be put to rights just by bending it back straight. (Go to far, of course, and it will break. Maybe leave the bending for a tech if that makes you nervous.) I have had that happen on my instruments, including my Holton that has similar valves.

I doubt the bell was changed, as hinted by another poster. The bell flare being clocked a bit to the right of the plane of the bend would put the label top-dead-center when the instrument is held properly.

You may not see a gold wash--those were soft, extremely thin, and easy to polish away by accident.

....../quote]


Thanks for the info. True. The gold wash may have been "washed off" Not sure. I just recall a possible replate.

The bell is adjustable. Not sure what the speculation is re: bell flare.

As posted, the 4th valve stem came loose. It has "fallen" into valve body. Piston itself is not stuck.

OT. (who has to run out the door.... I may open it first )

[Oceantuba]

Thanks for links guys.

I hadn't thought to search using "holtanphone" or "mammoth holtonphone" . Like duh.

Interesting and helpful. Quick scan sez 30" bell. Mine is not that. My eyes are goofy (optometrist) but will read it later.

Bloke/Rick Denny: that gives me a ball park idea about the value of this thing. Thanks.

Hrender: For sure. That line will be my future marketing strategy. ...... or just a line for the girls.

Another Holton Mammoth sousaphone tidbit:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Antique-Musi ... aphone.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

OT.

[Donn]

Bloke/Rick Denny: that gives me a ball park idea about the value of this thing. Thanks.

um ... I wouldn't take bloke's offer as an approximation of its value, rather as a valuable clue. I also think there's a good chance it's worth considerably more than a Conn 20K, which is an OK tuba but so common that the market is tough - if you think someone's asking too much for one, you may as well just wait for another to come along. While I doubt you actually have the world's only 4 valve Holtonphone there, when you put it up for sale, it could very well be the only chance at one most of us will have in our lives. The problem is just, most of us won't care, so you will need to reach the few people who do (and I personally think only a small fraction of them are likely to be reading Tubenet regularly.) The selling price will be a function of that more than anything else, in my opinion.

[Oceantuba]

um ... I wouldn't take bloke's offer as an approximation of its value, rather as a valuable clue. I also think there's a good chance it's worth considerably more than a Conn 20K, which is an OK tuba but so common that the market is tough - if you think someone's asking too much for one, you may as well just wait for another to come along.

I understand. Thanks.

While I doubt you actually have the world's only 4 valve Holtonphone there, when you put it up for sale, it could very well be the only chance at one most of us will have in our lives. The problem is just, most of us won't care, so you will need to reach the few people who do (and I personally think only a small fraction of them are likely to be reading Tubenet regularly.) The selling price will be a function of that more than anything else, in my opinion.

Aw shucks. And here I thought I'd get famous for having the only one.

With all due respect to list members here, IF I ever did sell it, I'd be curious about putting it up on eSchmay with a high reserve. But.... that whole process sounds risky at the best of times (yes I was burned once there).

What I should do is get the 4th valve fixed and give a honk for a while. I'll be done with my current gig soon enough, so I'll have time to "blow my face in" a bit on the Tuba.

OT.

[imperialbari]

Normally you (bloke) wouldn’t waste any interest in a Holton sousaphone. But this one has a larger bore and then an even larger bore through the 4th valve tubing. Our own sousaphone valve blocks are uni-bore (0.730" or so) all through the first branch of the main tuning slide (bloke used a 40K block for his pimpophone).

I like the 40K for its projecting and quite majestic sound, even if I have heard a King and some Conn’s with audibly larger bores. I would like hearing this large Holton with tight and well working valves. I won’t buy it alone for lack of space in my home. Yet it would be very interesting to hear it well documented in a recording.

Klaus

[Oceantuba]

..... I would like hearing this large Holton with tight and well working valves. I won’t buy it alone for lack of space in my home. Yet it would be very interesting to hear it well documented in a recording.

Klaus

Well I'll be done with my current gig soon enough. Though Tuba isn't my primary instrument, maybe I could hang up one of my cheap off shore Telefunken tube mikes and lay down a track or two with this horn. I would guess that these valves aren't too loose. Still a bit of pop, and that's with them dry.

Hell if I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll write up some kind of 4 part thing.

OT.

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

From what little is showing. The few braces I see and the casings tell me: yup, its a Holton.
Now, Ian, quit lurking in the storage and get back to your studies.


D.C. Oberloh

[Toobist]

Okay... Let me settle this.

The exact value of your Holton 4v Sousa is $50. Everyone has been pulling your leg! So, let me offer you 200% it's value. $100 and I'll pay for shipping!



Naw... I have no idea. I'd love one of my own though.

[Rick Denney]

Okay... Let me settle this.

I suspect it's been settled for a while. This thread is a couple of years old, that was revived to consider a completely different instrument.

Rick "who would have started a new thread" Denney

[Oceantuba]

Hi all.

Unearthed my sousy (and this thread ) and took some pics. Some may be of interest, but one begs a question.

Should the slide shown (4th valve circuit), move and pull out? Part of the tubing looks straight so maybe it does? There is a larger slide for tuning the 4th valve.

Thanks. OT



Is it possible there was a pull ring soldered on this elbow? Hard to see, but there's an oval mark left of the (patch?) Mark looks uncentered so maybe there was no pull ring soldered there.



4th valve stem that has "fallen" into the valve body. Threads look "ok" but I know for sure that there's only one original valve cap on this horn. My Dad attempted to get the proper caps from LeBlanc but I don't think they were the correct fit. Either way, that stem needs work!

[Oceantuba]

Thanks KiltieTuba.

I know *roughly* what may be required to repair the 4th valve stem but lack the experience and tools. A repair shop is in order so will "kill two birds" with that visit.

And great to know that slide doesn't move. All the other slides moved relatively easily (after all these years). Thankfully, it seems my Dad put Lanolin, or something thick, on the slide legs for storage purposes.

OT.

[Bandmaster]

I have wondered a bit about the size of this band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRmFS1nNmtQ

For a non-DC band it looks huge. The sousaphones don’t match in colour, which bothers me much less than their not always lining well up left-right. And then there is a special attraction to the lone sousaphone in the second last row.

The insane number of alto and tenor saxes also wonders me. Is this a massed band letting its double reeds march saxophones?

Klaus

Well, this band is called the "composite" West Coast Marine Band and is made up of the musicians from at least 3 different base bands located in different areas of Southern California. That's why the odd mix of instruments.

But I'd like to play this Holton sousaphone to see how it matches up to my BBb 345.