York Eb

[roweenie]

Interesting, I thought the 700 was a Bb tuba?

You're right. I was running out and just looked for 18" bell.
(knock on the head)

It is a 660. Eb, low pitch, 3 valves, top action, 18" bell.
It is also called a "monster" even though the next page in the catalog lists the 19" bell monster Eb.
So they had the 640 Eb (15"), the 660 (18") and the 670 (19 1/2").

If you have access to the catalogue, could you share the page that shows the elusive 660? Thanks!

[windshieldbug]

If you have access to the catalogue, could you share the page that shows the elusive 660? Thanks!

[roweenie]

Thank you, Windshieldbug.

Its interesting that the horn pictured appears to be the 19 1/2" bell horn. I've heard about the smaller (18") bell E flat monster, but I'd never seen one, until Cambrook posted the pictures of his magnificent conversion.

I'd love to get my hands on one, someday.......

[imperialbari]

The year of that catalogue?

Klaus

[cambrook]

Klaus - WSB told me it was 1927.

Mike Johnson bought this tuba from Dillons. He also told me that he's seen one other on Ebay a few years ago, but it was sold by the time he saw it.

[cambrook]

IF we could be so crass as to talk numbers - and we are, I think there's nothing to hide here - what's the total damage for these projects. And what would be the selling rate.

The short answer to both questions is many thousands - I don't know exactly how many.

There are some people who can buy unrestored classic cars/houses/whatever and do a complete restoration, and then sell them at a profit.
I must live in a different world - I've been involved in a few major projects over the years and I've found I can't just do a "good enough" job, and I always end up asking "how can it be better?"
As a result I've owned lovely classic cars which I couldn't afford to keep (and sold at break-even when costing only outlays and nothing for my time), and I live in a house which I've built that's much admired but has a mortgage that is much larger than I'd like.

To paraphrase Bloke: doing a job like this doesn't make sense - at least in dollar terms.
I'd like to say that I knew it would be good, but that would be an exaggeration. In truth I had a gut feeling that it was worth doing, and I was crazy/brave enough to pursue it. Of course, once you're part way through a project it takes on a life of it's own and you just have to take a few deep breaths and carry on to the end.

[windshieldbug]

Its interesting that the horn pictured appears to be the 19 1/2" bell horn.

The 19 1/2" Eb is by itself on the next page, and is also called "monster".

[roweenie]

Cambrook, if you have had the opportunity to compare your York Eb with a 19 1/2" bell Monster, is the bugle about the same
(minus the bell obviously) or is the bugle taper different also?

Thanks,
Jason

I can't speak for the entire bugle, but I know for certain that all of those models (E flat monsters, Bb flat Model 33, and the 700 series "tall-bells") share an identical bottom bow. Since I suspect all these horns were "hand made" there are slight variations, but they are close enough to say they are "identical".

The first branch ("top bow") on Cam's tuba (as far as I can see from his pictures) seem to follow the same taper as the 19 1/2" bell E flats, in that there is a sudden decrease in the taper at the peak of its radius.....of course, without measurements, this is just speculation based on visual analysis, of course......

(Jason, I'm sorry that I answered a question not addressed to me, but I felt I had something to add...... )

[roweenie]

Its interesting that the horn pictured appears to be the 19 1/2" bell horn.

The 19 1/2" Eb is by itself on the next page, and is also called "monster".

Thanks for the clarification - my point was that there doesn't seem to be any visual difference between the catalogue picture you posted (a horn with an 18" bell flare), and a 19 1/2" bell monster E flat..

Then again, a 1 1/2" difference in bell flare might easily get lost in an artist's rendition ....

[cambrook]

Cambrook, if you have had the opportunity to compare your York Eb with a 19 1/2" bell Monster, is the bugle about the same
(minus the bell obviously) or is the bugle taper different also?

Unfortunately I don't know of a 19 1/2" bell Monster to directly compare it with, there aren't many Yorks in Australia.

[1ADSarge]

That is a seriously beautiful horn you have there, my friend! I am glad you shared some great pics. The inscription work looks very well done and the raw brass finish looks perfect for that tuba!

Cheers,
Jared