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I've started a front action 5 valve Buescher project. Should be a cool little thing!



1-3 are from a 12j and the 4th is from a Reynolds Contempora I think.



Valve placement mock up

Dogleg is flipped.



I harvested the ferrule from a pile of euphonium parts I got for a song. So stay tuned for a freanken-euphonium!

Nice work! You might want to wait until you get the valves where you want them before soldering the dogleg in place. I had to play with the rotation of it to get the valveset to sit where I wanted it on my project. Keep up the good work!

Good advice

I think I have it where I want it, but it's not soldered down too hard so I could easily move it.

Made a brace from olds stuff


I used a pipe cutter to make some cuts and ended up screwing up the tubing. The cutter scored the tubing In multiple places. Good thing I was conservative in cutting.



Now I need to go buy some sort of mechanical cutting device.

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@LargeTuba How's this coming along?

Tubajug wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 8:02 pm @LargeTuba How's this coming along?

Not much progress. I'm thinking about trying to get a different valve section or reconfiguring the one I made. The one I made doesn't fit in a way that satisfies me.

I have been working a lot on the York 4/4 CC though.

I just recently purchased a Buescher CC from Lee Stofer and Eric Murphy. They used a 4 valve Buescher sousaphone valve section, and a hirsbrunner rotor for the fifth. Might look into that.

Some here know that I am a big fan of the Buescher c. 725” C tuba concept, and have a couple projects waiting in the wings.
Candidly, I suspect that the five-valve top-action detachable 19” recording bell project might offer better intonation than the more-pleasing-to-2021-eyes front-action project will.
The top-action recording bass was manufactured the same year as Gershwin wrote “American in Paris“. It would be fun to have that instrument realized, and then find that music (solo in C major) on my schedule.

I am eager to see your progress on your project. Unless my brain is totally playing tricks on me (in regards to remembering what various brands’ braces‘ appearances are) I believe that if you grind the corners off of those Reynolds brace feet, they would very closely resemble Buescher brace feet.

Would it be a problem if all valves (1-5) are .730"?

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:06 pm Would it be a problem if all valves (1-5) are .730"?

I wouldn't think so. Rotary valve tubas are often all the same bore 1-5. Sam Gnagey's King CC creations are the same bore (0.687) all the way through.

I dare say that a set of valves with even a BACKWARDS bore taper would play just about as well (better...??)

Thanks for the help.

Just today I got a new old .730" valveset.





Also, does anyone know if this is nickel or silver?

That valve set looks like it came of a Dynasty BBb contra. If so, I’d think silver plated.

Today I pulled the valves of the bugle. I also mocked up the fourth valve tubing.



I actually really like this configuration, and it seems to fit pretty well... Fingers crossed.

I hope those valves work out well, they seemed perfect for what your trying to do! Keep the photos coming!

Does anyone here have either a .730" or .770" bore rotor they wouldn't mind selling? Also I'd love some 18.5mm or .738" bore tubing or crooks.

Thanks!

The fourth is .770"...

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:47 am The fourth is .770"...

That's the same as a Miraphone 186 isn't it? I would think finding a rotor and tubing for that should be fairly easy.