The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Dave Detwiler · Post by **Dave Detwiler** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:36 pm

Hi all - I was invited to see the giant Harvard tuba this morning, and posted about my visit. Here's the link: https://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2019/02 ... t-wow.html

In the process, I had a great time catching up with Matt Walters, who will be restoring the horn over the next few months. And Steve Dillon and I engaged in stimulating conversation (as always!) as we are seeking to discover the history behind this oversized beast of a tuba.

Fun stuff!

Here's one photo to post here, showing side-by-side the horn from a lithograph made around 1891, and the tuba today, as it sits at Dillon Music waiting for its makeover!

Side by side.JPG

mikebmiller · Post by **mikebmiller** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 4:50 pm

My guess is they will need to add a 4th valve to it to make it playable.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:25 am

Great to see this instrument is getting a restoration. Any projection on the time line for its return to playability?

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:46 pm

I congratulate Harvard for having the insight and resources to conserve, preserve, and restore their monster tuba. I see far too many institutions letting their antiquities just whither away...

Dave Detwiler · Post by **Dave Detwiler** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 7:46 pm

lost wrote:Cool stuff Dave! I hope when it's restored it's not going back in the band clubhouse room. That's where I found it a couple years ago and junk was piled against it.

I believe they are working on a plan to protect and display the horn after investing in its restoration.

Dave Detwiler · Post by **Dave Detwiler** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 7:47 pm

iiipopes wrote:Great to see this instrument is getting a restoration. Any projection on the time line for its return to playability?

The restoration should be completed sometime in April, from what Matt mentioned.

Peach · Post by **Peach** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:42 pm

mikebmiller wrote:My guess is they will need to add a 4th valve to it to make it playable.

Hopefully in the standard, hard to reach, British position for extra playability...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:46 pm

Peach wrote:
mikebmiller wrote:My guess is they will need to add a 4th valve to it to make it playable.
Hopefully in the standard, hard to reach, British position for extra playability...

mikebmiller · Post by **mikebmiller** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:56 pm

So you will need an assistant to mash the 4th valve and put in the giant mute that will probably be called for on some tunes.

TubeNet

The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal

Re: The Harvard tuba up-close and personal