Conn 14K bell tenon size?...

[greenbean]

Oh, tuba specialists, please share your knowledge with me. How big is the bell tenon on a Conn 14K sousaphone?...

[Kirley]

6.5” diameter

[bloke]

6 inches, Tom (MALE connector o.d. - Elkhart production - .734” bore)

more info: (that you probably do not need)

PRE-Selmer USA Buescher (when Buescher was an autonomous company - back in the 1920's/1930's - BEFORE Selmer bought Buescher in the early 1960's, etc.) ALSO used 6 inches for quite a few of their 4/4 size range recording basses and sousaphones.

LATER, Selmer-USA ("Selmer, Signet, Bundy, Buescher") used this size for it's brass and fiberglass sousaphones.

The bell fit being their same, their stuff was NOT made by Conn, and Conn's stuff was NOT made by them.

Also - though there is some brand-to-brand diameter interchangeability (as described above) the collar height wasn't the same...so there might be (as an example) a 1/4" gap inside (etc.)

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Right around 6-1/4" is King/Besson (UK)/Jupiter (as their sousaphones mimic King, to a certain extent)

This one doesn't pop into my mind, but Olds/Reynolds might be around 6-1/2"...?? (I'm not climbing into the barn attic to check.)

[greenbean]

I do own a Buescher sousaphone from the early 30's. I would call it a "standard" size souzie with a 24" bell. Male tenon O.D. is a bit less than 6-1/2". Call it 6-7/16".

I have been thinking about this since I encountered a Conn sousaphone a few days ago. Looking at it, I guessed that it was something smaller than a 20K. The tenon was 7-1/2", I think. Unless my memory fails me - which happens often.

[bloke]

Buescher made a lot of things that seem to define “rules“, but they certainly made a whole bunch of “exceptions“ as well.
The older I get, the more of those exceptions I either see in pictures or in my shop.

If you’ve ever pictures of my crazy-paint-job 1970’s CONN 14K body - fitted with a 1920s 40K 4-valve valveset, besides it’s own 24-inch plastic bell (with a 6 inch collar), I also have a (probably ??dates to) 1950s extra-large BUESCHER brass bell (which I’ve used with it) with a 6-inch collar and a 26-inch diameter flare.
(The wide brass BUESCHER bell makes the 14K sound a little bit more 20K-ish, and might - ?? - be a bit more appropriate for playing gigs that are outdoor/standup, but may be a bit more “dignified”.)

[iiipopes]

(The wide brass BUESCHER bell makes the 14K sound a little bit more 20K-ish, and might - ?? - be a bit more appropriate for playing gigs that are outdoor/standup, but may be a bit more “dignified”.)

Oh. You mean Memorial Day.

[bloke]

exactly.

another example:
If I'm hired to do a stand-up graveside (and they want a JAZZ band), I'll go ahead and bring the wild-lookin' bell...
...but if I'm hired to do a stand-up graveside (and they simply want "hymns") I'll bring the Buescher 26" brass bell.

Symphony orchestras typically open their seasons up by playing the Banner...I like to stand (with everyone else - other than the celli) and use the sousaphone. For the Banner, I'll use the Buescher 26" brass bell.

and now: back to your regularly-scheduled programming...