What kind of B-Tuba - perhaps Cerveny?

[HembachTuba]

Hello, we need the experience of experts.
We got an old tuba, from a estate. We can not determine the manufacturer. Maybe it's a cerveny? Some pictures are attached. Thank you for your posts.

Bellsize: 41 cm (16.14 inches)
Borsize: 21,5 mm ( ~ 0,85 inches)
High: 110 cm (43.31.inches)
Nickel silver wreath

[Chris Mayer]

Hi,

the warp (Rohrführung und Anordnung der Züge; typically 4. valve and 3. valve running upright and parallel at the back, bow crossing at 3/4 of the corpus) of the tuba is based on an Alexander 164. (Cerveny or Miraphone which is based on the bohemian Graslitz cuts look different). This tuba was first copied by Hess, Klingenthal (by Mr. Andreas Crönlein leaving Alexander to work for Hess in the 30-40—ties). Hess became later what we know as B&S. This tuba was sold under VMI Modell 101, sometimes also as Sonora or maybe other stencil brands. It could even be, that a local music shop had bought such instrument and sold it under its own name/brand.

Due to the Mouthpipe entering the 1. valve at an angle and not straight, the model /style is somewhat older.

There might also be a serial number, normally at the mouthpipe at the mouthpiece receiver. Have a look for that. If you have such a number you could be in contavt with the Musikintrumentenmuseum in Markneukirchen and they will tell you the modell and the year of manufacture based on their still existing production log books.

Please also weight the tuba. An alexander 164, handmade, is appr. 8,5 kg. if your tuba has a similar weight and not the usual industrial manufacturing based 10-11 kg or even heavier weight (due to thicker brass) then you at least know, that you have also an instrument which has been made by hand from brass sheets with normally all the good qualities associated with it.

How is the tightness of the machine ?

Best regards

Christoph

P.s. Hembach as in Geiselberg ?

Best regards

[HembachTuba]

Thank you for the informations
Weight: 8,7 KG

.. and yes it's Geiselberg

[Chris Mayer]

The world is very small. Maybe you could join one of your colleagues for the next rehearsal of the Kreisorchester in Pirmasens early april and bring the tuba with you.

As the tuba resembles the properties you would normally appreciate (taper, mensur, of an Alex 164, bore, other dimensions such as the bell and the entire instrument was handmade, 8,7 kg, presumably in Klingenthal, warm full sound, depth of color, speak, ansprache), it could be quite an interesting instrument and wothwhile to keep and restore it. Weltklang was another brand that sold this kind of tuba. Althought this name is sometimes associated with „lower qualities“, Weltklang instruments in the past have been made by the same production brigades who made the other instruments (B&S, Sonora, Gerhard Schneider) in Klingenthal, but it happended that sometimes an aprentice (lehrling), assembled the instrument, or the „right“ material was not readily available...

(Also the dents visible in the pictures can easily be removed). Question is the tightness of the valves, but if not extremely worn, valves can be nickel plated to resume tightness and hence also speak, core of sound and intonation. There is a very skilled craftsman north of Kaiserslautern who could do this.

Hope you keep this interesting piece of history and curious how it sounds.

best regards

Christoph