? early Abe Torchinsky on a Mirafone 186 CC

[kathott]

Could someone comment with a certain degree of authority about Abe Torchinsky's Philadelphia Orchestra recordings? On which recordings might he have been performng on a Mirafone 186 CC? He is pictured in earlier Miraphone brochures.
Thank you,
Kathott

[Jay Bertolet]

You just told me something I didn't know about Abe if that's true. He never mentioned to me that he played on a Miraphone tuba ever. The horn I know of that he used on most of his recordings, the one he had when I studied with him in the early 80s, was a King 4-valve rotary action CC. He even had a matching Eb, made by King, that mostly sat in the locker. I'll be very curious to hear if anyone can confirm your statement. I thought I remembered him telling me that he bought that King CC through Bill Bell and that he purchased it before he had landed any orchestral jobs. At least that is my recollection. I hope someone knows more.

Regards,

[Ace]

I found one reference to Abe Torchinsky and a Miraphone 186. It's from an interview conducted by Carol Nowicke.

Nowicke: He told me that he quit smoking because he got pneumonia and missed a kiddie concert.

Krill: Yes. In those days, orchestra men did not miss concerts too much. I think his only substitute was one of the string bass players. I never heard him substituted for, frankly. Abe played on that Bill Bell King tuba with the rotary valves, and he also had an Alexander with a detachable red brass bell that a friend of his had lent him, on almost indefinite loan while he was in the orchestra. He would alternate between those two. Later on he got a rose brass Mirafone 186. It wasn’t like the gold brass they have now, it was kind of a rose-colored, probably a higher copper content.

[randy westmoreland]

I believe there is a Player locally (mid-Michigan) who owns one of Torchinsky's 186 CC's. Fifth valve operated by the left hand.

Randy

[J.c. Sherman]

I'd love to see the king rotory Eb - I built one, sorta out of a Miraphone Eb rotory section and a King Eb body. Sort of a teaching project, and it needs some work, but it sounds good. I'd love to see what King actually did!

J.c.S. (who thinks Abe had a closer relationship to MW than Miraphone...)

[jffenton]

I just became aware of this thread and thought I'd provide a little more info. I studied at UofM with Mr. Torchinsky from 1975-79. In the fall of my first year I purchased and still play his Miraphone 186-5U CC, this is the horn that is pictured in the ad and was given to him by Miraphone. The horn was built about 1964 and is a unique build in that it's rose brass with extensive nickle-silver work used for it's slides, receivers and valve casings. He also gave me an extra lead-pipe that he said was designed by Roger Bobo. Mr. T. said that only two horns were made like this, the other was Tommy Johnson's. The horn plays well, with a beautiful dark sound and most who have played it have felt it plays unlike most other Miraphones. The King was his primary horn, but the Miraphone was used enough by him (or others) that much of the lacquer was worn off... Mr T. said his hands were very acidic and ate through the lacquer. He recorded the Hindemith approx. 1976 and I'm fairly certain he used his King (and the Bell scales to get into shape). The MW Bell Model horn was in the studio which he'd use occasionally if he wanted to demonstrate something (ie: the Bell Scales, or an excerpt). I bought my Yamaha 321 Eb in 1978 through Mr. T and his store (Zaph's) connections in Philly. The horn had just come out and a number of us were buying them. Wes Jacobs bought one also, added a 5th valve and used it with the DSO. I wasn't aware that Mr. T. had a Yamaha Eb unless he got one for general use in the studio. However, he did buy an Ophicleide, which he and I performed French Ophicleide duets on a studio recital (my ophicleide came from the Stern's collection).

Also see the thread on the same topic ...
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=28681" target="_blank

[UTSAtuba]

[arpthark]

I'd like to see Tommy Johnson's 6-valve Mirafone 184 with the contrabass trombone attachment.

[J.c. Sherman]

I'd like to see Tommy Johnson's 6-valve Mirafone 184 with the contrabass trombone attachment.

http://www.robbstewart.com/files/TommyDoubleBell.jpg" target="_blank

[k001k47]

I'd like to see Tommy Johnson's 6-valve Mirafone 184 with the contrabass trombone attachment.

http://www.robbstewart.com/files/TommyDoubleBell.jpg" target="_blank" target="_blank

I wonder how it blended with the trombones