Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
austincomerf95
Lurker
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2024 11:48 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by austincomerf95 »

Hi All,

I'm trying to help a friend identify a horn, but my searches online haven't yielded results as of yet.

Anybody know what this is?

Pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

Pitched in Eb

Bell reads:
Meinl-Weston
A Division of Getzen

Leadpipe says "Made in Germany"

Many thanks for any assistance!


User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3909
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 954 times
Been thanked: 1070 times
Contact:

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by arpthark »

I am also having trouble finding a contemporary Meinl-Weston/Melton catalog from the 1970s/80s. If I had to bet, I'd say this was MW's answer to the Miraphone 183. Engraving looks 1970s-ish, to me. Looks kinda like an Eb version of the Meinl-Weston 45 F tuba. Nice kranz.

USA did not recognize East Germany until 1974, so if the tuba was made before then, perhaps that can explain "Made in Germany" instead of "Made in W. Germany" on the leadpipe stamp.
DonO.
Posts: 674
Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:12 am
Location: Meadville, PA
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 259 times

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by DonO. »

I believe it is close to a Meinl Weston 2040. Although the model number may have been different back in the day. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sure it would be snapped up quickly. Although the 5 valve version is more desirable.
King 2341 “new style”
Kanstul 902-3B
Conn Helleberg Standard 120
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3909
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 954 times
Been thanked: 1070 times
Contact:

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by arpthark »

DonO. wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:39 pm I believe it is a Meinl Weston 2040. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sure it would be snapped up quickly. Although the 5 valve version is more desirable.
The 2040 has a much broader body/bell, similar to the 45-SLZ (6/4 size F tuba), vertical main tuning slide, 5 valves, large bore, bugle wrap has a loop in the back (similar to a Besson 983 body shape). This one seems to be much narrower/smaller, with the horizontal main tuning slide, no back loop, etc.

You could maybe say this is a precursor to the 2040, but this seems contemporaneous, design-wise, with the MW 25/20 BBb, 45/46 F, 37 CC, etc. My money is on a two-digit model number! :tuba:
DonO.
Posts: 674
Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:12 am
Location: Meadville, PA
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 259 times

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by DonO. »

arpthark wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:49 pm
DonO. wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:39 pm I believe it is a Meinl Weston 2040. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sure it would be snapped up quickly. Although the 5 valve version is more desirable.
The 2040 has a much broader body/bell, similar to the 45-SLZ (6/4 size F tuba), vertical main tuning slide, 5 valves, large bore, bugle wrap has a loop in the back (similar to a Besson 983 body shape). This one seems to be much narrower/smaller, with the horizontal main tuning slide, no back loop, etc.

You could maybe say this is a precursor to the 2040, but this seems contemporaneous, design-wise, with the MW 25/20 BBb, 45/46 F, 37 CC, etc. My money is on a two-digit model number! :tuba:
Yes, I agree it’s probably a 2 digit number. Maybe it’s like the 45/46 with a bit of extra length? I wish someone had a 1970’s MW catalog! I had one a very long time ago, but that’s been long gone. Don’t you agree that an Eb MW of any sort is a rarity in the US?
King 2341 “new style”
Kanstul 902-3B
Conn Helleberg Standard 120
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3909
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 954 times
Been thanked: 1070 times
Contact:

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by arpthark »

DonO. wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 1:43 pm
arpthark wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:49 pm
DonO. wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:39 pm I believe it is a Meinl Weston 2040. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sure it would be snapped up quickly. Although the 5 valve version is more desirable.
The 2040 has a much broader body/bell, similar to the 45-SLZ (6/4 size F tuba), vertical main tuning slide, 5 valves, large bore, bugle wrap has a loop in the back (similar to a Besson 983 body shape). This one seems to be much narrower/smaller, with the horizontal main tuning slide, no back loop, etc.

You could maybe say this is a precursor to the 2040, but this seems contemporaneous, design-wise, with the MW 25/20 BBb, 45/46 F, 37 CC, etc. My money is on a two-digit model number! :tuba:
Yes, I agree it’s probably a 2 digit number. Maybe it’s like the 45/46 with a bit of extra length? I wish someone had a 1970’s MW catalog! I had one a very long time ago, but that’s been long gone. Don’t you agree that an Eb MW of any sort is a rarity in the US?
Yes, I have only seen a handful of 2141s, and one 2040.

It reminds me of the Miraphone 183 -- not quite sure what niche that was filling, as Eb tubas were on their way out in the 60s when Miraphone began importing into the USA.
Matt Walters
The Tuba Whisperer
Posts: 73
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2020 8:20 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 41 times

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by Matt Walters »

That looks like the Meinl Weston Model 40 Eb tuba. 15" upright bell, 39" tall and .690" bore
These users thanked the author Matt Walters for the post (total 2):
York-aholic (Tue Jun 04, 2024 2:05 pm) • arpthark (Tue Jun 04, 2024 2:25 pm)
Last Chair Tubist
Who cares what group
Owns old horns that play better than what you have
User avatar
bisontuba
Posts: 938
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:08 am
Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 697 times

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by bisontuba »

These users thanked the author bisontuba for the post (total 2):
arpthark (Tue Jun 04, 2024 2:27 pm) • DonO. (Wed Jun 05, 2024 6:41 am)
austincomerf95
Lurker
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2024 11:48 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Need help to ID Meinl Weston

Post by austincomerf95 »

Wow, that was quick! Thank you all for the info!
Post Reply