If you REALLY needed a factory-made part...

[Cameron Gates]

It ain't Buffet.

[Michael Bush]

I ordered (through a local repair shop) a screw from Miraphone once, and it took 3+ months to arrive. When it turned up, I had long since discovered that Apple used effectively the same screw in the MacBooks of that time and put one of those in the linkage. So I still have that Miraphone screw out in the shop in a drawer.

As to other factories, I have no idea. I do know it never takes Wessex or Mack Brass over two weeks to get me a part (yes, those parts that "aren't available") and rarely over a week.

[Michael Bush]

here are some purple anodized screws that will fit Miraphone rotors.

Perfect!

[bbocaner]

I don't have any experience with Jin Bao or Wisemann, but I can report that it took me more than three years to get some special size felts and rubber valve dampers for my BE-2056 baritone. Baltimore Brass was very persistent and finally got them for me after two other very well regarded authorized Buffet dealers failed to get them and gave up.

[Ken Herrick]

H.N. White (King) G.O.A.T. !!!!! Ordered some parts for my old King Monster BBb rotary and within a week I had everything they had left in the parts bin for this long since discontinued model.

Oh, wait, that was over 50 years ago - things might have changed since..........

[TUbajohn20J]

I need Jinbao to make me a Conn replica upright 24" bell for my 26J. In lacquer please.

[Wyvern]

I can only talk for Wessex. How long it takes to get parts depends on stock situation and where we are in order cycle.

The more common parts (such as valve guides) we try to keep in stock to supply immediate. Those parts get ever more as we find what people regularly require.

Other small parts that are available out of the factory parts bin (such as screws and springs) we may get sent by air-mail, if particularly urgent. Otherwise we pick up small parts during our quarterly factory visits.

However larger parts that need manufacturing/assembling (such as slide assemblies) usually have to go through the normal order process to be scheduled in production which can take 4 to 8 months.

[Wyvern]

Hopefully, the 4-8 month scenario wouldn't happen too often!

It all depends if that part is already in production. If there are already batch of X tuba being made, then no problem to add extra part for X tuba to order. But you can understand a factory set up for mass-production does not want to program machine, or set up jigs for just one part in isolation.

The realities of a modern production facility

[Wyvern]

Seems to me that most needs are for the common consumable parts, however, every so often, something odd pops up. The distributor that can stock/get those the quickest will really score some serious reputation points.

It so happened a couple weeks ago I had a repairer wanted 3rd valve for Eb tuba as owner had dropped and damaged original. Lucky I had already got complete set of valves as someone else had wanted 1st valve. So in that case I had the 3rd valve immediately to supply.

Now I just want someone to require a 2nd, or 4th valve

[nobody]

Most of the Miraphone stuff (as well as many others) is M3 X .5 thread...and Allied Supply keeps a bunch of genuine Miraphone stuff in stock. The problem was likely with the person from whom you ordered...and (my guess would be) waiting to accumulate a $50 minimum to order from Allied......but - if you want something really cool - here are some purple anodized screws that will fit Miraphone rotors.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/button-h ... -of-4.html

That's neat! I just might have to look into that myself.

[nobody]

TMEA is the 2nd largest band specific trade show in America, and lots of others attended both shows.

They told me the shipment of euphoniums got "lost"

America? I thought you said "Texas."

Yeah, FedEx and the other super competent, caring, professional freight and shipping companies never lose or destroy fragile shipments when time is a factor. Or when it isn't factor. Couldn't have been they were lost between DC and the Republic of Texas.

It's a conspiracy to keep euphoniums out of Texas.

"Don't mess with Texas. Euphonium free since 2016"

Weather could have played a role in it too. One year Kelly Mouthpieces had a very minimal display in their booth due to the fact that merchandise they had shipped there hadn't arrived yet due to bad weather (snow).

[Eflatdoubler]

Interesting. Besson told me they sold all of their euphoniums at the D.C. Tuba conference. Exact words were " not a bad problem to have"