Weird Valve

[TheHatTuba]

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-VALVE-ROTARY-SYST ... 1523wt_905" target="_blank
What would this be used for?

[Kevin Hendrick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-VALVE-ROTARY-SYST ... 1523wt_905" target="_blank
What would this be used for?

Dang, there's a scary-lookin' object! OK, let's see ...

(a) playing 6 times as loud?

(b) beating on things and digging in the dirt?

(c) each input tube (straight) corresponds to two output tubes (curved), so -- apparently -- some kind of A/B switching device. 12-belled euphonium, anyone?

[TheHatTuba]

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-VALVE-ROTARY-SYST ... 1523wt_905" target="_blank
What would this be used for?

Dang, there's a scary-lookin' object! OK, let's see ...

(a) playing 6 times as loud?

(b) beating on things and digging in the dirt?

(c) each input tube (straight) corresponds to two output tubes (curved), so -- apparently -- some kind of A/B switching device. 12-belled euphonium, anyone?

Could be an ice tray

[corbasse]

It could be a part of some omnitonic horn, but the details don't seem right for the horns I know of.

[J.c. Sherman]

This is a french horn mechanism for a horn in two keys. The rotor has two positions, with both tubes from each of the three valves passing through it; up, it goes through one length, down for the other. A more modern variant of this system is used on full double instruments of Lidl and others. There's a double tuba which was also built with a similar, though better designed - mechanism.

This was never widely employed.

J.c.S.