Nickel Plated Miraphone Origin Info

[KingTuba1241X]

Since most of the "old site" info is chopped up or dead now my info searches came up mostly empty. I was hoping to hear more about the origins and usage of the "Dutch/Netherlands" versions of the rare Nickel plated Miraphone horns if anyone had old brochures or anything pertaining to such horns. Did Miraphone only nickel plate horns going to this part of the world since this was a popular thing there? Recently found an (near mint never repaired or smashed) early 70's 186 with "Miraphone Waldkraiburg Exklusiv" etched into the bell and was hoping to get more info on it. It's a 3 valve horn that I plan to splice and "add a couple valves" to and make a really cool close to factory horn out of with a little help and brainstorming.

[peterbas]

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[KingTuba1241X]

I´ve played in a band that has 2 of these but with four valves and these or bigger then a 189.
I did email Miraphone about them at least 15 years ago (can´t find it anymore) and they where then made for a music shop in the dutch province Limburg. I´ve forgotten the name but they are some years out of business.
I´ve been there once to buy a Bruno Tilz mouthpiece for use with my St-Pete.

It was Hanssen muziekcentrale. They closed in 2013.

So this Hanssen place was the only distributor of these horns? I wonder how many were actually made for that market and for how long. Yes this is a standard 186 size with 43cm bell and 105cm tall. Might call this one a "Mirrorphone" since it's so shiny.

[groovlow]

...early 70's 186 with "Miraphone Waldkraiburg Exklusiv"

Does the horn have a serial number? If so where?
Cool find looks like chrome.
Thanks
Joe H

[KingTuba1241X]

...early 70's 186 with "Miraphone Waldkraiburg Exklusiv"

Does the horn have a serial number? If so where?
Cool find looks like chrome.
Thanks
Joe H

It's in transit, won't know for some time yet. As far as I know, Miraphone only put them on the bells under the logo right? (Unlike Cerveny/Amati). The previous owners (local band in East Netherlands) said they bought a few of these back around 1972 new.

[matt g]

There might be a matching serial number under the back caps on one of the rotors.

[bloke]

Nickel plating was a French/Belgian thing - more than anywhere else in Europe, yes, or no ?

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cheesy ad inappropriately shoehorned into this thread:

Reasonably soon, I'll be offering up a "Howard Johnson" style 4-valve (NICKEL PLATED) Mahillon BB-flat tuba.

Unlike the Meinl-Weston "HoJo" thing, this genuine Mahillon instrument features the original 16mm bore (NOT 17mm).

Also, these things tended towards being slightly "sharp-natured". I fabricated a new mouthpipe (same dimensions as original) which allows A=440 to be easily achievable.
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back to that Miraphone:
It would be fun to build a 4th circuit, nickel plating it, and then install it (already plated).
People would be asking me if it's a St. Pete...

[bort2.0]

I thought nickel plating was popular in northern Europe and the Baltic states, to help protect against corrosion from the salty air.

At least that's what I remember from Klaus Bjerre... I hope I'm remembering correctly. Klaus, we miss you, buddy!

[KingTuba1241X]

It would be fun to build a 4th circuit, nickel plating it, and then install it (already plated).

If nickel plating was easy, cheap and readily available, yes. Using a 4 valve Mirafone block unlacquered from the same year horn and a 5th. (at least for now).

[peterbas]

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[peterbas]

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[bloke]

...so are those model 90s…aka 190’s?

I’m not a big Mahillon fan, but the small-bore/full-size BBb does work pretty well and is pretty slippery as far as getting around on it - which is probably why Howard Johnson kept playing it...(??)
G. Leblanc (speaking to the side-topic of obscure French tubas) made some 3+1 non-compensating tubas that were about the size of Besson’s (BBb) but featured the same small bore size as Mahillon.

[KingTuba1241X]

Nickel plating was a French/Belgian thing - more than anywhere else in Europe, yes, or no ?

-------------------------------------------
cheesy ad inappropriately shoehorned into this thread:

Reasonably soon, I'll be offering up a "Howard Johnson" style 4-valve (NICKEL PLATED) Mahillon BB-flat tuba.

Unlike the Meinl-Weston "HoJo" thing, this genuine Mahillon instrument features the original 16mm bore (NOT 17mm).

Also, these things tended towards being slightly "sharp-natured". I fabricated a new mouthpipe (same dimensions as original) which allows A=440 to be easily achievable.
---------------------------------------------

back to that Miraphone:
It would be fun to build a 4th circuit, nickel plating it, and then install it (already plated).
People would be asking me if it's a St. Pete...

A bit before my time but yes most instruments used to be nickel plated from flugelhorn to tuba.
The Mahillon instruments weren´t considered to be very good instruments.

Here a picture to see the size of the tuba. They are real kaisertuba´s.


And a youtube video with on the right with a 191. Sorry for the bad video and sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MZN60Kt4t4

Which horn is this in the photo? Miraphone?

[YorkNumber3.0]

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[peterbas]

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[peterbas]

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[KingTuba1241X]

Wow nickel plated 190...now that would be a hit in the states. WANT! lol

[bloke]

In the gentleman’s lap, it looks (tall, but) not that tall.
90B tubas are 45-1/2 inches tall.

[KingTuba1241X]

190's that are found here in the states are roughly 44'' (a little shorter than the older 90B's from yesteryear). Still tall, but will fit into a modern Protec gig bag which is nice. I think the real old original Kaisers were close to 50'' ?

[bloke]

This one is not quite as tall as this tape measure indicates.
It's more like only 45-3/8"

It's hard to hold the bell rim perfectly level to the ground, hold a floppy tape measure in place (yard or meter sticks are too short), and take a stupid phone pic - all at the same time.



Most of the Czech kaisers that I've encountered are shorter than this instrument.