What years were Miraphones marketed as Mirafones?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:08 pm

Tried a bunch of searches, but either didn't know the places to search, or just plain stunk. Any ideas, too, would be helpful. Thanks.

Thought it might add some info to Horn-u-copia â€º The Manufacturers â€º Mirafone Instruments

Teubonium · Post by **Teubonium** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:12 pm

My TE-186 (a model built for Tuba Exchange) was made in 1997.

It says MiraFone on the bell.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:37 pm

Here's an earlier discussion:

viewtopic.php?t=11556&highlight=miraphone+mirafone

I had a 183-4 (Eb) made in 1971 and a 184-4 (CC) made in 1980, and if memory serves me correctly, both of them were spelled 'Mirafone' on the bell logo.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:19 am

Thanks muchly. Gettin' closer to actual numbers! ...

Erin · Post by **Erin** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:35 am

Most accounts I've read of the Miraphone vs. Mirafone issue cite the mid-90's as the time when Mirafone generally stopped being etched on the bell of most instruments.

I have a 181 with "Mirafone" written on the bell. I'm fairly certain the horn was produced in May 2000.* Is it highly unusual to have a "Mirafone" produced this late, or do I just have one of the "probable exceptions"?

*I've got an email from a sales representative for Miraphone in Germany stating that this is the case.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:21 pm

I bought a Miraphone 191 in the fall of 2000. The tuba says Miraphone on it; but the case has both Miraphone and Mirafone stamped on it.

tubathig · Post by **tubathig** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:36 pm

My 186 cc was made in 2002, it is marked Mirafone, the mouthpiece that came with it is marked Miraphone. I don't really think it matters, 6 of one half dozen of another

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:23 pm

But when did they start making the MiraFones for the U.S. ?? I can't get a handle on the start of Orpheus/California.

Musictrader starts #1463 in 1960. Does that mean anything?

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:42 pm

windshieldbug wrote:Musictrader starts #1463 in 1960. Does that mean anything?

Yes. The Lockie brothers began distributing Miraphone/Mirafone tubas in that year. They had a warehouse near Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. If anyone has a tuba with the serial number 1463, you have the very first Mirafone sold in the United States as an American horn. Eventually, they would settle at the Roy J. Maier Corporation Building at 8484 San Fernando Road in Sun Valley (actually in the Los Angeles city limits). Then they moved up to Santa Clarita (Valencia). And after that they moved to San Antone.

The Mirafone tubas that went through Los Angeles (and later Valencia) were actually remanufactured to American standards. I had a tuba overhauled in the Sun Valley shop in 1982. I thought it was a very impressive setup. It was too good to last, sigh!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:50 pm

Thanks for the info!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:55 pm

Roy J. Maier is now the property of Steinway, along with Conn, King, Selmer (US), and Leblanc.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:58 pm

Another assimilation by the cyborg I was unaware of. Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated.