Finger Buttons!

[roweenie]

Hirsbrunner has very similar for about $25 each in raw brass - silver plated was about $30 each. I've ordered several sets from him in the past.

Thread is 4mm, M.O.P. inlay is 20mm.



They may have been replaced at one time - the only B & S buttons I've ever seen look like this:

[roweenie]

The ones you've got look like the ones I've got on an older Meinl Weston valveset I've got (at least 10 years ago).

You could try Bauerfeind, but they will refer you to Adams, who will refer you to a local distributor.

I get it - I'm very fussy about finger buttons, too

Actually, they look like they might be older Hirsbrunner buttons - here's a broken one that I got about 30 years ago:

[DouglasJB]

Might be a good place to ask this... does anyone know where to find the large buttons found on a Newer King 2341 or Conn 5XJ

[roweenie]

I wouldn't have minded too much if this were my father's Oldsmobile....

[The Big Ben]

I wouldn't have minded too much if this were my father's Oldsmobile....

I knew a guy who put a second front wheel drive engine package in the trunk of one of these. Didn't go much faster but could smoke all four wheels the length of a 1/4 mile race track.

ObTuba: I don't think these cars used finger buttons.

[Three Valves]

I'll tell you what's annoying.

People, mostly younger people, that say "button" like it is two syllables.

"Buh-in"

Illiterates...

[Three Valves]

I stand corrected...

I should have said, pronouncing it with two distinct syllables in an affected, 80s, Valley-Girl type way.

This phenomenon may be limited to the Northeast region of the USA...

[roweenie]

At the risk of repeating myself



I'd say this button is a dead-ringer for your button....obtained from Hirsbrunner, via Bob Tucci (a Swiss company, just like Kurath/Willson), about 30 years ago (similar time-frame to the vintage of your Kurath horn).

An email to Herr Hirsbrunner in Sumiswald might (?) answer your question.

Just trying to help.....

P.S. - I like this kind better, too, FWIW

[Three Valves]

I know, I was just goofing around. Kind of like clam chowder right?

That vernacular is even more isolated!!

[MaryAnn]

I suppose there is no access to a "real" machinist who could simply make you some? Not that they would be cheap.

I get it on the weight thing, especially how the spring pushes your finger up faster than you can, halving the effort (new concept, neat, never would have thought of it, but I play rotors like piano, works perfectly; whole finger whack, innate.) I am more comfortable with viola than violin because violin requires a physical delicacy that is difficult for me. I need more mass to whack around. Good luck on the buttons.

[Lee Stofer]

The Hirsbrunners generally had Bauerfeind pistons, which would differ from the Boehm & Meinl pistons from the late 1980's, which I consider to be some of the best pistons ever from Germany. Since Boehm & Meinl has been out of business for some time now, the prospect of finding new, or new-old-stock finger buttons from 30 years ago is not very promising.

One of my customers has an excellent piston tuba with Boehm & Meinl pistons, back when Walter Nirschl was doing excellent things there, and when the finger buttons got chewed-up beyond reasonable usability by the customer's skin acidity, I lightly chased the upper stem threads with an 8-32 tap, and installed a set of my finger buttons, which work perfectly on that tuba.

I have more of these finger buttons than I'll ever be able to use in my tuba production, so I'm going to offer sets for sale. They are available in raw brass, clear lacquered, gold-tint lacquered, silver plated or nickel-plated. The button is 25mm (.994") wide, with a 19.5mm (.780") pearl width, and the button is 6.5mm (.260") tall, thread size 8-32. This will fit Conn 5XJ, Getzen, pre-WWII Holton, Kanstul,new-style King, Olds, Reynolds, Stofer, and York tubas without modification, and many others with valve stem fitting. These finger buttons are comfortable, cosmetically appealing, and lightweight (although not faddishly so. . . . .)

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

Just need an idea of what you want and some lathe skills.

D. C. Oberloh

[roweenie]

(where's the like button when you need it? )

[bort]

Did you ever get touch with Willi?

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

My point was that you can have what ever you want but it will likely need to be made to order. I'm fussy about buttons too.


Dan'l

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

I figures as much. Way cool, will be great to see your results.

D.

[roweenie]

Just need an idea of what you want and some lathe skills.

D. C. Oberloh

I've got 3 York original buttons (as pictured above), but have been unsuccessful in finding just one more to make a complete set of four.

I have no lathe skills, nor a lathe to develop them on. However, I do have the desire to obtain one more button to make a complete set - that would really make my day.