Alexander Lore

[Heavy_Metal]

Another older Alex thread- and yes, as of now the link to the pics still works:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53109&p=655133#p655133" target="_blank

[bort]

Two more of my tuba. At some point, it becomes fruitless to try and track down all of these details. But, it's fun for a little while! The "TRYPLEN" stamped on the paddle bar, and the number "2086" scratched into the top rotor cap (surely, not from the factory)

[bisontuba]

Are these tryplen rotors? Have you popped one out to look at?

[bort]

Are these tryplen rotors? Have you popped one out to look at?

I took out the MTS and 2nd valve slide... rotors are metal

[cjk]

Are these tryplen rotors? Have you popped one out to look at?

I took out the MTS and 2nd valve slide... rotors are metal

score.

[pjv]

As long as we're showing body parts; these are the caps on my 163. Age? No idea. Bell is about 16 5/8inches.

[big1096]

I was lucky enough to buy an Alexander 163 that was owned for quite a long time by the late Dave Bragunier of the National Symphony. It is the best tuba I’ve ever owned, and I will never be without it. It’s my main horn since the day I bought it, and I can’t imagine finding one better. It does anything I want it to do and more. It’s definitely capable of more than I can do with it, but I’m always learning.

[Tom]

While we are comparing notes on Alexander details, here’s a few bit about mine to add to the thread:

The Alexander 163 CC that I have is known to have been sold new by Giardinelli in NY. It has a serial number stamped (not etched) into the top of the second valve casing. Several years ago I corresponded with Alexander and sent them that number and some photos and they came back to me definitively saying my tuba was built in 1983. This tuba is raw brass (which factory confirmed was how it was ordered), has spiral springs, T-hinge linkage on the paddle side and unibal on the valve side, no V-gusset, nickel smooth valve caps, bronze rotor tops (yes, I’m sure), and a receiver size larger than Euro but smaller than the jumbo size that everyone thinks of. I have not measured the kranz, but it is “full size” and not narrow. Interestingly, this particular tuba was part of a set of 4 that was sold to a University, two in BBb and two in CC. Both CC tubas survived but the BB tubas are apparently “gone.”

The Alexander 163 BBb that I have is a bit different. No definitive age, no serial number, and only a partially known history. It is an ex-Everett Gilmore tuba (apparently one of several Alex BBs he had). It’s not a rumor that it was Gilmore’s tuba - I have letters from him about this particular instrument and bought it from a former late 1980s-era student of his via the seller’s uncle who was (actually still is) a musician during Gimore’s tenure in Dallas. Exactly how and when Gilmore got the tuba is a little more unclear as there was more than one Alexander 163 BBb that he owned and the stories of those tubas have all been blended together over the years. Anyway, this one has clockwork linkage, V-gusset bell, engraved valve caps (like the first one Ted posted), “jumbo” receiver size, was factory lacquered, and has the normal full-size kranz. Unfortunately this tuba was not well cared for in the student’s hands and, although playable, it really needs restoration.

[T. J. Ricer]

Dave Bragunier was my teacher’s teacher (I studied with Mike Thornton). I had a lesson with him and wanted to pass on one of his “tricks” that probably works well on that horn:

Try playing the Peasant and Bear excerpt with BBb tuba fingerings. This works especially well on the 16th notes: open D, 1st C, open Bb. He might have even played the Ab with 1st valve, but I don’t quite recall (this lesson was 15ish years ago).

-T. J.

[peterbas]

Deleted

[pjv]

It says it needs an overhaul but the only indication they give is that the valves rattle.(linkage?)
This is an older model so, yeah maybe it needs an overhaul. On the other hand heavier oil can also do wonders.

[bort]

It says it needs an overhaul but the only indication they give is that the valves rattle.(linkage?)
This is an older model so, yeah maybe it needs an overhaul. On the other hand heavier oil can also do wonders.

Link didn't work for me...

[Donn]

It says it needs an overhaul but the only indication they give is that the valves rattle.(linkage?)
This is an older model so, yeah maybe it needs an overhaul. On the other hand heavier oil can also do wonders.

I was pretty sure the noise from my old Cerveny clock spring valves was the linkage. I don't know if it's just because they're always older, but aren't clock spring valves kind of notorious for that, is there a typical remedy?

[toobagrowl]

I was pretty sure the noise from my old Cerveny clock spring valves was the linkage. I don't know if it's just because they're always older, but aren't clock spring valves kind of notorious for that, is there a typical remedy?

Yeah, it's because clocksprings are usually older with the 'S' linkage. The springs themselves are about as quiet as regular springs -- it is the 'S' linkage that usually becomes worn and noisy over time. The linkage can be 'peened', and clocksprings can be replaced or rewound, and become fast and quieter again. Dan "Tuba Tinker" Schultz does clockspring + linkage work I believe


Oh yeah, Alexander tubas are nice, and still sound better than the vast majority of new "flavor of the month" tubas

[peterbas]

Deleted

[Rick Denney]

I was pretty sure the noise from my old Cerveny clock spring valves was the linkage. I don't know if it's just because they're always older, but aren't clock spring valves kind of notorious for that, is there a typical remedy?

Yeah, it's because clocksprings are usually older with the 'S' linkage. The springs themselves are about as quiet as regular springs -- it is the 'S' linkage that usually becomes worn and noisy over time. The linkage can be 'peened', and clocksprings can be replaced or rewound, and become fast and quieter again. Dan "Tuba Tinker" Schultz does clockspring + linkage work I believe


Oh yeah, Alexander tubas are nice, and still sound better than the vast majority of new "flavor of the month" tubas

Or https://www.rickdenney.com/valve_linkages.htm

This offends some restorers. But it’s a permanent solution and can look pretty good if done carefully.

Rick “who might not consider it for his Hirsbrunner, but was a no-brainer for that B&S” Denney

[bort]

Two other things I noticed about my Alex, which I haven't seen on any others. Minor details, but I thought they were moderately interesting. Are these common on other Alex tubas? If so, are they common to some era of Alex tubas?

1) The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tuning slides all have "nubs" on the top of them. I'm assuming the 1st used to have one, but was removed when the slide pull ring was attached. This is a small thing, but I like it a lot... It's tactile, and easy to remember which way the slide goes when you put it back in (and no scratchmark alignment marks like my old Willson)


2) The 4rh valve tubing has an added guard on the bottom, where it is exposed and often gets dented on other horns. I've outlined it in red here, it's hard to see on the silver finish. Looks stock to me, but impossible to say for sure. There is a similar guard on the top of my wild leadpipe, but that one looks a little different, and obviously not stock up there. This one is sleek and clean, so it looks stock.