Conn Rotary Tubas From the Early 20th Century
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Stephen Shoop
- bugler
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:23 pm
Conn Rotary Tubas From the Early 20th Century
In light of the Conn four valve rotary tuba (circa 1925) that recently sold on Ebay, I would like to know if anyone might have additional information about these tubas. I am acquainted with the Fred Geib/Warren Deck Conn that currently resides in Austin, Texas. In 2004, I authored an extensive biographical article published the I.T.E.A. Journal about Fred Geib. I know Mr. Geib owned other tubas (including a Sander). However, I am curious if anyone knows any of the details about how these Conn rotary tubas came to be and how many others might still be out there. Thanks.
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bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11224
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: Conn Rotary Tubas From the Early 20th Century
Hi Stephen,
I've done some research on this over the past year or so. Will send you a longer email after the holidays, but a few high points of what I remember:
-- some people have said 5 of the CC ones, 2 with Conn-made rotors and 3 with Sanders valve sets from Germany... But there may be more that were cobbled together. And some BBb's too.
-- apparently all of the Sousa band had to use Conn instruments, and Helleburg only wanted to play rotary tubas, since he was a German guy... So Conn did what they could for hin
-- Warren Deck played Geib's old horn for a few years in the NYPO. Bad intonation with the original valve set, so he swapped it with an Alexander valve set, which helped in some ways. He said it had a great sound, but was too difficult to play, so he built his own stuff.
Overall, it sounds like they were an idea that never took off, and never had the chance to go through the many rounds of R&D needed to end up with a mass production tuba of good quality. Plus, rotary tubas weren't cool in the US until the 70s or 80s, so it just didn't work out.
I'd still like to play one and see what its like... And I wish a modern American CC tuba existed. But it doesn't. My rotary Willson is really pretty close on paper to what I think it would be like, but I'm finding it to be too large. Frankly, maybe I shouldn't have sold you my 188 and saved myself some headache. :p
Merry Christmas, will write more next week sometime.
I've done some research on this over the past year or so. Will send you a longer email after the holidays, but a few high points of what I remember:
-- some people have said 5 of the CC ones, 2 with Conn-made rotors and 3 with Sanders valve sets from Germany... But there may be more that were cobbled together. And some BBb's too.
-- apparently all of the Sousa band had to use Conn instruments, and Helleburg only wanted to play rotary tubas, since he was a German guy... So Conn did what they could for hin
-- Warren Deck played Geib's old horn for a few years in the NYPO. Bad intonation with the original valve set, so he swapped it with an Alexander valve set, which helped in some ways. He said it had a great sound, but was too difficult to play, so he built his own stuff.
Overall, it sounds like they were an idea that never took off, and never had the chance to go through the many rounds of R&D needed to end up with a mass production tuba of good quality. Plus, rotary tubas weren't cool in the US until the 70s or 80s, so it just didn't work out.
I'd still like to play one and see what its like... And I wish a modern American CC tuba existed. But it doesn't. My rotary Willson is really pretty close on paper to what I think it would be like, but I'm finding it to be too large. Frankly, maybe I shouldn't have sold you my 188 and saved myself some headache. :p
Merry Christmas, will write more next week sometime.