Checking Out a Vintage Meinl Weston…

[Doc]

Checking out a friend’s vintage Meinl Weston. It was the one bloke got to wrench on this week.

[jtm]

Looks good as new! Now I need to add Wild Wild West to my test music, too.

[bloke]

What I did can’t be seen in a picture that far zoomed out.
It didn’t arrive here beat up, just a little bit messed up.

[Doc]

The leadpipe had previous damage and a less-than-desirable repair. The leadpipe/receiver was at the following angle, and it sported a King brace (what???) that prevented the leadpipe from being closer to the bell. The venerable bloke made it all as correct as can be.

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[bloke]

I didn’t really know what I was going to see, but was hoping that I could just bend the mouthpipe and receiver back straight without taking anything apart or burning any lacquer.

I did have to take some things apart, but I guess I really didn’t technically burn any lacquer, because there was already a lacquer patch (in the same place as you see) previously, when the other person – back who knows when…(??) – “sort of” fixed the original damage.

Old rattle-can touch-up lacquer doesn’t hold up very well against a torch.

[DonO.]

Is that red rot I see on the 2nd valve slide?

[Doc]

Just unlacquered brass that isn’t polished.

[DonO.]

My first “good” tuba was a twin of this. Does the bell have the “A Division of Getzen” designation? He thinks this one is from approx. 1967 or so. I bought mine used in 1975 so unsure of the year on mine but I always assumed early 70’s. It could have been late 60’s I suppose. In the early 70’s Getzen was calling them Model 25. I remember mine had a receiver larger than American (Euro? Something else? I don’t know). A mouthpiece was included that fit well but I didn’t like it. I used a Bach 18 and the receiver swallowed it almost up to the shoulder. I played it that way, and made it work. It got me through college. I was ignorant and knew nothing at all about adapters or custom made mouthpieces. I wish I had known then what I know now. Did this one have that extra large receiver, and was anything done to “correct” it?

[Doc]

My euro shank fits perfectly, and an American shank does not get swallowed up. It appears to be the original leadpipe.

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[matt g]

Maybe this predates Getzen being the importer?

[bloke]

just “oxy-rot” (tarnish…missing lacquer, probably from somebody putting their thumb there)

Is that red rot I see on the 2nd valve slide?

[bloke]

My understanding is that “Meinl-Weston” is a name that the Getzens came up with, and that Anton Meinl’s company name was actually “Melton”.
>> I’m NOT an authority on this.

receivers:
Some “standard“ receivers look good with fat shank “euro“ mouthpieces inserted into them, because they are actually just standard shank receivers which are extended longer towards the opening. This (what I refer to as “fake euro” receivers) is actually a common practice to this day. I suspect (??) this strategy is something that manufactures realize allows players to use standard, euro, and in-between shank mouthpieces on their instruments.

custom mouthpieces in the 1970’s:
In the 1970s, we were lucky to find someone who could sell us “a” mouthpiece. Probably, Conn Helleberg mouthpieces were considered to be “custom” at that time.

Maybe this predates Getzen being the importer?

[DonO.]

Sounds like mine could have been “large” shank or even “Kaiser” shank receiver. Because it really swallowed up my Bach mouthpiece. It’s strange to me that mine was like that but this example is not.

[bloke]

If if your Bach mouthpiece snugged up in the shank, it was a standard shank receiver that went out farther on the open end, as I described.
Other styles of tuba mouthpieces (other than Bach style) don’t have that short shank and ring (as are featured on Bach-style mouthpieces), and thus it’s not so noticeable when more of those other-styles mouthpieces’ shanks are covered up with a long receiver.

If your Bach mouthpiece actually did bottom out (and fail to snug up), then it was a genuine euro shank receiver.

[Tuba1153]

Joe did a great job getting the lead pipe restored back to “originalish.” The horn plays and looks great for its age and has an incredibly dark sound. Bill and I think that the horn is on 5/4 side for size. The low end is glorious and can rattle your teeth. This is the first horn I have ever had to use with a tuba stand in my 38 years of playing tuba.

For reference, left to right, Gronitz Eb - MW BBb - Miraphone Hagen BBb