The Miraphone way of stenciling

[imperialbari]

I never heard of Miraphone making stencil instruments to carry any maker's label but their own. However large retailers could order series of instruments with their own spec concerning matters like Kranz/Garland or the amount of nickel silver trim.

I cannot say the engravings were made at the Miraphone factory, but it is quite common to see Miraphone instruments from the German speaking countries having the name of the original retailer engraved below the Miraphone logo.

Latest sample I saw was this bass tuba:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/300928010009

Klaus

[Steve Marcus]

Tuba Exchange in N.C. markets/marketed a "student" line of Miraphone tubas (Perinet?).

[imperialbari]

Tuba Exchange in N.C. markets/marketed a "student" line of Miraphone tubas (Perinet?).

I am not aware of the current sales program of TE, but around 2000 they marketed (if memory serves me) a variant of the 186 BBb, which had a suffix to its number indicating it was a lighter (less nickel silver) version where TE had determined specs of the trim.

Klaus

[Uncle Buck]

Tuba Exchange in N.C. markets/marketed a "student" line of Miraphone tubas (Perinet?).

I am not aware of the current sales program of TE, but around 2000 they marketed (if memory serves me) a variant of the 186 BBb, which had a suffix to its number indicating it was a lighter (less nickel silver) version where TE had determined specs of the trim.

Klaus

This wasn't the Perinet line, though. That's the term Miraphone used for a while for their piston tubas marketed to schools.

[imperialbari]

Perinetventile = piston valves after the original invention by Perinet. You wont see German Perinet instruments with rotors. You will see valveless Perinet instruments though, as he also made the large French hunting horn, cor de chasse.

The Germans have one huge lack of consistency in their nomenclature though. They called the original French cornet a Piston. And that term stuck, when they made their own rotary cornets in Eb or Bb. They carry the German name of Piston.

Klaus

[Dan Schultz]

Interesting! Looks like an Eb (model 183). Clocksprings aren't too unusual for even modern European-sold horns. The lack of engraving on the rotor tops/bottoms is interesting. Brass outer slide tubes is pretty normal.

Of particular interest is the lack of a serial number on the bell. Maybe they stamped the paddle bar or receiver. Can't tell from the pictures.