Info on Mirafone (Miraphone) 35W F Alto Horn

[bobd0]

Hello all,

New member here. I've read TubeNet's board for the past few years, ever since picking up brass again after a very long hiatus. I played most instruments in the brass family at some point before quitting but I've settled on middle brass, Eb and F alto instruments. I own a couple of alto horns now. One is a three-valve (rotary) Mirafone 35W, left hand. During a search for more information on this horn, I came across the following TubeNet thread from 2006:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17404&p=143352&hili ... et="_blank

I didn't want to reply to an eight-year old thread so I started a new thread. I've seen examples of what appears to be a four-valve Mirafone 35W with Eb and F slides. One sold recently on eBay. The Eb slide is installed and the F slide can be seen in the photo of the horn in its case:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mirafone-5623-B ... true&rt=nc

Horn-U-Copia has both models listed but the four-valve model is listed as model "5623", which is more likely the serial number, not the model number:

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php ... instrument

Does anyone know whether or not my three-valve Mirafone 35W was built in Eb/F too? Because, if so, I'd love to find an Eb slide.

Thanks.

Robert

[bobd0]

I know this must look like mini-horn dorn from the Land of Oz to most tuba players but I'm sharing a photo of my little Mirafone 35W F Alto anyway.

Still looking for an Eb slide for this horn -- if they exist.

[bort]

Why not just call or email Miraphone?

This is good advice -- Miraphone is an extremely approachable and responsive company. I don't think they can sell directly to the public, but you can talk with them to identify what you need, and then pick your favorite Miraphone dealer and ask them to place the order.

If you buy new parts, they won't be cheap, but they WILL be correct.

[bobd0]

My thanks to you both. I hoped photos would help elicit a response.

That is good advice and I have considered calling my local brass shop, which is a Miraphone dealer. However, after seeing prices for stock Miraphone slides, I was hoping to find a used Eb slide. I'll call my local Miraphone dealer to see if they can supply an out of production slide and what it might cost. Or maybe they can make one up. I don't need OEM. Any slide that puts the horn in Eb will do.

[imperialbari]

I really wonder whom this model was made for. The very compact wrap of the 4 valve model must have made it very expensive to make. Why a left handed version with paddles similar to those on horns. If the purpose was a marching instruments for horn players, then why not a horn receiver? Never saw anything like this used in a European context.

Klaus

[bobd0]

I really wonder whom this model was made for. The very compact wrap of the 4 valve model must have made it very expensive to make. Why a left handed version with paddles similar to those on horns. If the purpose was a marching instruments for horn players, then why not a horn receiver? Never saw anything like this used in a European context.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,

It certainly is a different kind of horn. All the more reason I wanted one. The 1974 Miraphone catalog has this model listed as "Contralto Horn F-Eb -- Oval Style, Model 35-3-L, 3 Valves, Left hand action for French horn players" -- check out those 1974 prices! $670 for the 3 valve models and $795 for the 4 valve. Note they also came with a "Contralto mouthpiece" as well as a French horn mouthpiece and adapter standard. I'm playing it with my Denis Wick 1 tenor mouthpiece. I haven't tried any of my other mouthpieces with it yet but I like this combination so far.

I don't know exactly what niche Miraphone was trying to fill but I wouldn't want to march with this horn even though it has a lanyard ring. Too awkward, at least for me. I like playing it seated.

[Heliconer]

Here are two Miraphone Contralto Horns in F, 4 Rotary valves. The one on the left is only in F, but the one on the right came stock with an Eb Slide as well as an F, and was built with a french horn receiver, not a tenor shank.. That's me on the left, and the Contralto Client on the Right. What's interesting is that the two have very different configurations, I believe this is due to the allowance of an Eb Slide on the right one. The left one has a much smaller tuning slide and is much more tightly configured.

IMG955948.jpg

[bobd0]

Thanks very much, Heliconer!

There is a 4 valve model listed on eBay, on its third time around. It sold twice but was re-listed each time. I have no idea why but there appears to be bell damage and the horn looks quite well used, which kept me from bidding on it. The bids were too high for a horn in this condition, even for the 4 valve model.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141400560188?ss ... 1436.l2649

This eBay horn has the tuning slide on the same side as the rotor paddles, as does my horn and the horn you're holding. I notice the instrument on the right of your photo, held by the customer, appears to have the tuning slide on the opposite side of the bell bow, on the same side as the paddles.

Do me a favor? Ask your client for me if he wants to part with his Eb slide cheap.

[bobd0]

I just followed up on the good advice above and emailed Miraphone, asking if they can supply me or my local Miraphone dealer with an Eb slide.

Fingers crossed that price for the slide isn't more than the price I paid for the horn!

[Palomorado]

Ha!

So glad to find this thread!!!
I've been trying to get info on these little horns for a few years!
I mostly play French horn and mellophone but picked this guy up in 2011 for $300!
An amazing instrument and I've used it all over the world...even played it in a
small "Tuba Section" with the great Tuba Joe Exley (who plays a Miraphone CC Tuba
only a few serial numbers from my little guy).

Mine is in F and only has three valves...I've been considering getting in touch with
Miraphone and seeing if I could get the fourth valve added...i'd love to get that
tritone in the lower range available!

Here is a pic of me playing it in East Germany last Spring...
If any of you have more info please pass along!