Raincatchers--Who on Tubanet owns originals?

[Gongadin]

Hi, Mark;
I own a Conn 42K Grand Jumbo; silver plated, gold wash bell, three valves. I played her on a silent film gig last Saturday. I named her "Donna" after the World's Oldest Hippo in the Evansville Zoo.
I know of another Jumbo Raincatcher with four valves other than that young man's in California, but the owner is not interested in selling.
There's also a Holton (regular valves) regular-sized Raincatcher with three valves that I believe is for sale...but unfortunately it has been refinished. Apparently the seller's Father did not care for the horn's silver plating, so he had it all removed and had the horn lacquered!
As an aside, I found the Holton that is now owned by Don Harry; it was in an auction in Milwaukee. It wasn't for sale in the auction...the auctioneer was wearing it and blew into it before announcing each lot that was coming up for bid!

[bisontuba]

I think we met at Don's John Kuhn exhibit when he & I did some demos together....
Mark

PS--Congratulations on owning & using 'Donna!' BTW, The auctioneer story anout Don's 'Chief' raincatcher is really incredible!!!! And--I bet there are folks on this Board who will want that lacquered , formerly silver (sigh....) Holton raincatcher...

[Gongadin]

Thanks, Mark;
We did indeed meet at the John Kuhn exhibit. I enjoyed that event so much; I'm really glad I attended.
Donna was manufactured around 1924 and she sports a 26" bell. Forgot to add that info earlier. I found a vintage Conn Chief mouthpiece in a local Kijiji ad for $15 (!) and that seems to work really well with this horn.
Here's a picture of me trying to imitate John Hart's pose from an early Erskine Tate's Vendome Orchestra photo.

[bisontuba]

Great pic and nice looking 'big' raincatcher--very cool!!
Mark

[Sam Gnagey]

I have this 1925 vintage Conn. Never lacquered. Plays great.

[bisontuba]

Sam-
Sweet!!!

Mark

[bisontuba]

Great find!!
Mark

[Lew]

I used to own this King Eb raincatcher. I don't remember where it went when I sold it.



Here it is next to a Conn 28K (that now belongs to Don Harry):

[bisontuba]

Hi-
My silver 4v HN White/King BBb Raincatcher Sousaphone, c.1915-25 (model 1258):
Mark

[bisontuba]

Hi-
22" bell, .687 bore, model# 1258. Originally owned by the engraver at King and used as a display--pistons are like new.
Mark


......above courtesy of the HN WHITE website, c. 1924 catalog...

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Here's the story:
My King Raincatcher was bought from a Sistek family garage sale (about 1990) where the previous owner met children/grand children, of James Sistek, who told him the instruments they had were from the the remains of their father's store where he was shot during a robbery and the thieves burned down the store to cover the murder in 1976. He bought about 6, all were sooty looking/smelling (they were in a shed near where the store fire took place, so all were just covered in ash & were smelly, but not damaged. A good cleaning returned the rain catcher to its glory).

James Sistek (1909 - 1976) - Was an Engraver for HN White Co. In 1920? started Cleveland Musical Instrument Co. with brothers Alois, William and John Hruby (Cleve Orch Trpts 1919 -1955) to make an inexpensive yet quality student model trumpet - The Cleveland Trumpet. Bought by King 1925.. continued to make "Cleveland" horns there on W 6th? St in Cleveland - hence serial #'s with a "c" prefix are after 1924. Some time later White closed W6th? street location and combined making of "Cleveland" horns in Superior Ave main plant...

Sistek then then started his own co. Sistek Music House and/or SISTEK MUSIC COMPANY located on Broadway Ave in Cleveland where he seems to have made a few cornets and trpts, but most instruments labeled SISTEK seem to be imported stencils. ALL were hand engraved, by SISTEK? some highly decorated...

From HN White.com:
The Cleveland Musical Instrument Company was formed in February of 1919 and was known for their Cleveland Trumpet. The Company was successful for awhile and at one time employed fifteen people. But as frequently happens with new companies, overhead and expenses were too great for the volume of business they could command. For two years The H. N. White Company made instruments for Cleveland to help fill back orders. Then in 1925 Mr. White bought the Cleveland Musical Instrument Company. Mr. White saw the Cleveland brand as the perfect fit to cover the growing school band market which demanded high quality instruments at a low price. The Cleveland brand, along with American Standard were marketed to marching bands and schools. Both were about 40% less in price than a "King."

[Frank Ortega]

A pic of my 1905 Conn Raincatcher.
Bigger than my 40k (pictured next to it), but not quite a Jumbo.
It plays a bit Sharp and I think the main slide was already lengthened.

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[bisontuba]

Nice raincatchers!!!!!!
Mark

[uncle jerd]

I have a York Eb that I got from the great-grandson of the original player. It was bought for the Soldier's Home band at the turn of the last century and the guy took it home when he retired. It had been hanging on a leather strap on the same nail in the basement for 70 years!

Dan Schultz did a marvelous job with it and it plays great now!