Agreed; these aren't big sousaphones. My Martin Indiana E-flat seems to be about the same size as I remember the Elkhorns to be.
The bell on the Elkhorns had a bit of a ring to it when the instrument was pushed, not unlike the sound of sheet metal ductwork atop a forced-air furnace in operation.
Leaks in the leadpipe circuit or at either end of the valve knuckles were a constant issue with both of our Elkhorns, along with upper valve block tuning slide tubing cracking around the exterior arcs.
If it were my horn, I'd go over the solder joints and upper valve slides with the proverbial fine-toothed comb, just to make sure it stays leak-free down the road.
