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It's probably shiny enough, so I might fire up the Devilbiss, tomorrow.
I hope I don't crap all over it...


Please don't call the electrical inspector...Those are just phone wires...


Mrs. bloke just fed me (beef paddy w/cheese, no-sugar ketchup on top, no bun, broccoli, cauliflower, coffee), so I guess I'll go back out there and shine up all the small stuff...



I've got SO much to do...This thing needs to be finished.
I can, though, tell that I'm no longer 28 years old...
I'm usually asleep by ten, and often (particularly if I've been kicking fairly strenuous morning butt...as - this morning - I did some preliminaries for Mrs. bloke's large-@$$ fenced-in garden) take a midday short nap (preceded by a large cup of coffee).


' was just informed (' will see the sheet music at the gig) that there's a "big tuba solo" on this weekend's Easter gig...whaaaa...?? yeah...It's probably two loud-@$$ notes - doubling the organ pedal.

Another great job, @bloke!

I try to NOT buy instruments that need refinishing before selling...but I'm determined to dig through stuff that I bought LONG ago, and get it fixed up and sold BEFORE my kids have to find it and deal with it.

coated with clear today (ideal temperature/humidity...only 32%...!?!?, and - having just rained and early spring - no dust nor bugs).

It looks as good as it did before I shot it, so I suppose (??) that defines success.

For a couple of other customers, I'm going to de-dent, strip, polish, and shoot a "lightweight" Bach 42 trombone (with gold-brass bell, and open wrap) - and straighten out a mailed-in bottom bow for someone else, while I allow this stuff to skin over and harden up for a couple of days.

Then (if luck holds out) I'll stick all the rotors and slides in it, take it to the school that's buying it, and hand them a bill.

After this is delivered/billed, I'm thinking about (??) jumping ahead to the two Holton 345 tubas, but ONLY straightening out their bottom bows (the most sorry-@$$ part of each restoration gig) so I won't be dreading "getting to" them.

OK...
After un-mangling the linkage, I found that the 60-year-old steel bushings (in the S-arms) are NOT worn at all, so I will NOT be replacing them with nylon bushings.

I just don't see any point in fixing things that are not broken nor even worn.

...so...the OTHER band director (across the street, at the middle school) left some things with us to repair (a week or so ago), so I guess we'll shoehorn those middle school instruments ahead of things that are properly in line for repair, so we can return those repairs AND this new-to-them tuba in ONE trip (as it's a 3-hour round trip to that school).

It sure has a PHAT sound with this 19" bell flair (again: salvaged from a Miraphone detachable recording bell)...

...and (being squatty and wide) it fits nicely in this (bought YEARS ago at a surplus price, when the Conn 5XJ series tubas were discontinued) MTS-made case.

I like it. It should be a new model Miraphone 186 "The Amero" or "JPS".
I saw the horn in pieces in March including the trashed kranz and flair (that looked like an escaped beauty ring from a 60s Opel that had been run over many times, off and on the pavement, for decades).
Would have been nice to play a few notes on the "JPS" in the big room.
Nice job, an innovative looker now.
Joe H