Building an upright detatchable bell for Mira 186

[The Big Ben]

Some people find it's a little annoying to tell a person to search but I will do it again.

Click on "Advanced Search" in the top menu and put 'Miraphone detachable bell' into the blank without the apostrophes. It will come up with 80 items and you will get lots of information about 186 Miraphone in general and the hows and whats of configuring an upright bell for use on a 186 which came with a recording bell. Some of the results won't apply but I think you will easily be able to find helpful information.

Jeff

[iiipopes]

bloke, Vince made an upright detachable out of a St Pete for mine, but using the stock tenon assembly. It was too short and needed the main tuning slide lengthened, but it worked. I'm also considering making another upright for mine that is the correct length and has more of an "American" flare and throat taper rather than the 16 1/2 inch "stovepipe," just to get another variation on the tone the basic valve block and bugle can produce.

Have you talked to tubatinker? He's done a few, also.

[bearphonium]

Welcome, Trav! I think your horn could go great with an upright bell.
Ally

[Dan Schultz]

I routinely build upright detachable bells for Mirafone 186 tubas. The tenon is about 6 5/8". New tenons can be purchased from Mirafone dealers but you have to buy a complete collar set... male and female.

I have Asian bells for 186 'clones'. I cut the bell and fit the tenon. You can have the bell-stack that I cut off if you want it.

If your 186 now plays in-tune with the original recording bell... intonation might be on the sharp side with an upright bell. In some cases, I've had to extend the main tuning slide.

BTW, Bloke.... I would like to talk you out of that bell tenon. I just used the last one I had here. I have a mess of receivers if you ever need one of three.

[SousaSaver]

I know you are looking for an upright bell but...

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIRAFONE-MIRAPHONE- ... nstruments" target="_blank

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIRAFONE-MIRAPHONE- ... nstruments" target="_blank

...the price is low if you need a cheap replacement.

(P.S. - I have no involvement with this auction)