SOLD: Walter Sear Helleberg, gold plate $125

[arpthark]

Edit: sold, thanks!

Selling this somewhat rarely-seen mouthpiece.

I have heard that these were made from solid nickel silver, and not silver-plated brass. I've never seen a gold one before besides this one, so it could be an aftermarket plating job.

Regardless, this is a large mouthpiece that feels different -- larger -- than the typical Conn Helleberg. I have read that Walter Sear designed these to his own specifications based on an original Helleberg, but I cannot confirm that.

Gold plate is at about an 8/10; some wear starting to show around the rim but it still feels very smooth. Some plating wear also evident on shank.

One small flat spot on outside/bottom edge of rim but does not contact playing surface at all.

Asking $125 + shipping to continental USA.

The Simonetti Tuba Museum has one of these, but this one is in better shape...!

[arpthark]

Sold!

[bloke]

Now that this has been sold, I have a question for anyone who knows:

Yes or no, were these originally all either nickel plated or rhodium plated or something like that?

[IROB]

I have a large sear that is not stamped Helleberg but is that type that had belonged to AJ. It was a soft nickel alloy no plating. I did gold plate it so I could use it.

Really nice MP on large horns

[arpthark]

I read that they were solid nickel silver and that Walter had some fellow in Germany (GDR, at the time?) make them.

I've seen a few Alexander mouthpieces of slightly older vintage (ca. 1950s-60s) that were solid nickel silver as well.

The only way to tell with the one I just sold would be to remove the gold, I guess.

[humBell]

I don't know much about it, but x-ray spectroscopy might come in handy here.