helicon on ebay

[ken k]

just saw this and it looks purrty

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-J-W-York-He ... dZViewItem

k

[Alex C]

He had this on Craigs list about a year ago at $5-6000. There was a fair amount of discussion about it. Buy it now at $1995 seems almost like a bargain in comparison. Hmmmm, I wonder if bloke will add a fourth valve and cut it to C for me?

[ken k]

5-6000!!!!! Yikes, talk about pie on the sky....

$1995 even seem a bit high for a three valve helicon even though this is a pretty nice example. But this looks like a rather small bore horn similar to an old york Sousaphone we have at our HS. And while that horn gets a decent sound it is bit stuffy compared to say a Conn or King.

ken k

[The Big Ben]

Well, ya know, the builder begins with the "Y" word...

Arnold Jacobs played one of 'em, ya know....

[Lew]

I owned one of these a couple of years ago. It was in worse shape, but playable. I think I paid around $300 for it and sold it for about the same price. In my opinion a 3 valve Eb helicon of this vintage is worth at most $1000, even in this condition.

[Harvey Hartman]

5-6000!!!!! Yikes, talk about pie on the sky....

$1995 even seem a bit high for a three valve helicon even though this is a pretty nice example. But this looks like a rather small bore horn similar to an old york Sousaphone we have at our HS. And while that horn gets a decent sound it is bit stuffy compared to say a Conn or King.

ken k

Hi Ken look close at the picture of the horn and its goose neck?? Looks like it just 2 U shaped tuning bits?? Did you ever see this on a Helicon or sousa? I know I never did
Harv.

[windshieldbug]

My best guess is that the horn's around 1912-1913. The high/low pitch tuning loop was patented in 1910. I've never seen that configuration of neck/bits on a York, either, and the brass "neck" on a silver horn does look a bit suspect.