Texas Tech surplus: King rotary valve tubas

[arpthark]

!!!!

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=M ... ctid=20977

[matt g]

That’s pretty awesome! I’m pretty sure that the upright bell fits those from a more modern King.

[arpthark]

Curious to see how high bidding goes on those.

Some Texan on here better nab one.

[edfirth]

Matt. The modern bells fit the C but the Bb tenon is considerably bigger and they are rare as hen's teeth. Kanstul wqs making them to order for awhile. Ed

[matt g]

Matt. The modern bells fit the C but the Bb tenon is considerably bigger and they are rare as hen's teeth. Kanstul wqs making them to order for awhile. Ed

Good to know! That’s too bad.

If I were local I’d probably see what could be done and possibly conjure up something for an upright bell.

[gnimoyw]

Very obvious question - are these BBb or CC? Any idea what models these are or other details?

[arpthark]

I think they are CC but not sure. The wrap is very similar to King "monster" rotary valve CCs, at least the main bugle.

[DonO.]

Aren’t these the same as the ones Bill Bell poses with for his album covers and publicity photos? Only his had the upright bell.

[edfirth]

The horn in the picture is a Bb there were supposedly about 100 Bb's and 7 to 17 C's' The C's were .687 bore and about the size of a 186 Mirafone while the Bb's were .750 bore and physically much bigger. They started production early on during the great depression and wrapped it up at the end of WW2. I have a Bb that I'm extremely fond of.Ed

[bloke]

I worked on a really pretty B flat one time that I'm pretty sure had a .750" bore, so maybe a "giant" or whatever King called the size larger than four quarter. It had a recording bell. Somebody had prettied it all up and silver plated it, the owner busted the thumb ring off the flange, and I had to get the flange off, braze the ring back on, pretty it up, silver plate the ring flange, and get it back on the instrument without screwing up the silver. I did a good job for the guy, but never got any feedback. I don't need feedback I don't suppose. I just need to be paid. LOL

Anyway, that's my only experience with any of those. I wish I knew more about them.

Most people report that the tuning on the rare ones in C is consistently wretched, do they not?

The only other experience I've had with that long long lever string linkage system was with a incredibly rare Kruspe kaiser B-flat. Slow slow valves.

[gnimoyw]

The horn in the picture is a Bb there were supposedly about 100 Bb's and 7 to 17 C's' The C's were .687 bore and about the size of a 186 Mirafone while the Bb's were .750 bore and physically much bigger. They started production early on during the great depression and wrapped it up at the end of WW2. I have a Bb that I'm extremely fond of.Ed

Thank you! I’m within driving range and keeping an eye on this jjsr for the cool factor though I suspect they’ll go for more than I want to spend.

[arpthark]

These ended up going for $4,751, and plus taxes and fees came to $5,785. That's a pretty penny for two of these!

[gnimoyw]

Yes, much higher than I was willing to pay - hopefully the new owner is happy with 'em!

[tofu]

[arpthark]

These ended up going for $4,751, and plus taxes and fees came to $5,785. That's a pretty penny for two of these!

So there were 2 rotary valve tubas? I didn't realise that.

Yep, two silver rotary valve Kings (apparently B-flats) that had probably been in storage for the past 40-50 years.

[bort2.0]

"Not it!"