Grand Rapids Helicon project

[humBell]

"Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi, you're my only hope"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134457579252

[arpthark]

Aside from the missing B.A.B. (big-@$$ brace) on the bell and the unfortunate galactic-rift tear in the body, it seems like it's mostly there?

Valves are a whole 'nother story, though; seller says they are stuck, so who knows. Still cool.

[humBell]

If BAT is a thing, what about a BAH?

I am intrigued by the King style MTS.

And feel safe in guessing this is a BBb despite the lack of loop in the 3rd valve circuit. York helicon is my personal counter example to that rule of thumb.

Sadly i am not anticipating passing through anytime soon, and i think this may be the seller of infinite patience when last i failed to effect a local pickup in the area in a timely fashion.

[donn]

Looks Eb to me, really. Valve section a lot like a '30s King. The serial number would be ca. 1940 if the "2" above makes it a 6 digit number.

The bell may not be from the same instrument. Note the last picture - sans bell, non? No detachable bell collar joint, the bell is just not soldered on. Looks kind of funky, too - that jagged dark line around the small end, what's going on there?

[windshieldbug]

No, it's a 5 digit Grand Rapids BIC.
It IS Eb, though.

Look at this GRBIC #38894 on Horn-u-copia:

[Yorkboy]

According to the seller it has a 6” crack in the bell rim, too.

The “2” above the serial number is undoubtedly for “piston #2”…besides, the likelihood of an E flat helicon being produced @ 1940 is pretty low, I’d think.

Lots of work needed there…..

[humBell]

No, it's a 5 digit Grand Rapids BIC.
It IS Eb, though.

Look at this GRBIC #38894 on Horn-u-copia:

I chose... poorly.

And only 13 removed from the horn-u-copia example.