TubaForum.net

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325331943404?m ... media=COPY

As I am a Bass Player who had aspirations of achieving the classic double of Tuba and Bass, I did pick up this Old Conn sometime ago. I did apply some of my early childhood trumpet skills rather awkwardly on a mismatched mouthpiece purchased blindly after the fact.
After assessing time left VS likely hood I decided to re home the Big Horn. AND NOT AS A FLOWER POT.

Turns out to be 130 years old!

‘ look like a handsome project horn.

I’m assuming that it is pre-Elkhart. WRONG

I don’t know anything about the big B-flats from way back when, but some of the larger E-flats (from way back when) offer superior innate intonation characteristics to the Elkhart instruments.

edit:
I’ve now looked at the pictures, and see that it the engraving is Elkhart. I guess the older I become, the older a Conn instrument can be and still be have been made in Elkhart.
That having been said, it does have the look of some of those really early Elkhart instruments - which more resemble those manufactured in Massachusetts (in the same way that early Elkhart Bach trumpets and trombones strongly resemble the later of the New York ones).

Were it that we lived in the same country (as your home is in that one which is on the other side of that mountain range), I would love to toot on that thing and check out it’s overtone series (plural).

That thick top bow makes me want to grab a can of silver polish and get to work!

I'll be keeping a very close eye on the auction. Definitely within driving distance.

York-aholic wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:26 am I'll be keeping a very close eye on the auction. Definitely within driving distance.

Next project?

That's what I'm thinking...

Interesting, but waaaay too far from me for a local pickup

Yorkboy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:16 pm Interesting, but waaaay too far from me for a local pickup

Seller is open to shipping.

But now I'm not interested anymore. I don't want to bid up against you guys, y'all don't need that.

Whoever buys it, please let us know!

That’s a long tuning slide, I wonder what pitch this instrument was built in? 1891 was a very long long time ago too … The good folk here are wise, they understand the USA much better than I and people have so many different reasons for bidding on eBay.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:25 pm

Yorkboy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:16 pm Interesting, but waaaay too far from me for a local pickup

Seller is open to shipping.

But now I'm not interested anymore. I don't want to bid up against you guys, y'all don't need that.

Whoever buys it, please let us know!

Thanks for that consideration, Bort

Shipping to the east coast would be prohibitive….

“2nd tenor” wrote:That’s a long tuning slide, I wonder what pitch this instrument was built in? 1891 was a very long long time ago too … The good folk here are wise, they understand the USA much better than I and people have so many different reasons for bidding on eBay.

Good eye.

1891 = high pitch

A skilled tech could fabricate something to cut down on the straight length (the York HP/LP donut comes to mind)

I am happy to do the Leg Work to ship the old boy!

I’m 2:45 away and looking for an excuse to drive to Santa Barbara.

Yorkboy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:43 pm

“2nd tenor” wrote:That’s a long tuning slide, I wonder what pitch this instrument was built in? 1891 was a very long long time ago too … The good folk here are wise, they understand the USA much better than I and people have so many different reasons for bidding on eBay.

Good eye.

1891 = high pitch

A skilled tech could fabricate something to cut down on the straight length (the York HP/LP donut comes to mind)

As I understand it Conn didn’t build in A440 at that time, they did build in a high pitch and in a low pitch but not in today’s standard A440. Good luck if you bid, I guess that it’s a piece of history and hope that you’ve got a good Brass Tech.

Boompa wrote: ↑Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:46 pm https://www.ebay.com/itm/325331943404?m ... media=COPY

As I am a Bass Player who had aspirations of achieving the classic double of Tuba and Bass, I did pick up this Old Conn sometime ago. I did apply some of my early childhood trumpet skills rather awkwardly on a mismatched mouthpiece purchased blindly after the fact.
After assessing time left VS likely hood I decided to re home the Big Horn. AND NOT AS A FLOWER POT.

Turns out to be 130 years old!

Many thanks, @Boompa for putting the tuba up for auction. It is wicked cool and unusual. It seems to have a tighter wrap than other old Conn BBbs i've seen: @Dave Detwiler's thread: Ever received a surprise tuba delivery?! And while i'm not very wise on Conn history, it was made not too long after Conn added Fiske resources to their production, so i wouldn't be surprised if somehow that affected the design.

Anyway, i'll see what i can do to make up for @bort2.0's aversion to bidding against friends... Don't want to think ya lost anything by sharing.

What years was Conn also in Worcester Mass? My 1895 Conn Eb was is a Worcester.... This BBb is a little older and Elkhart.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 09, 2022 8:15 pm What years was Conn also in Worcester Mass? My 1895 Conn Eb was is a Worcester.... This BBb is a little older and Elkhart.

Good question...

Hornucopia.net says:

1886 - Wonder model introduced Purchased Fiske Plant in Worcester MA. Instruments made between 1887-1897 usually referenced both locations.

....

1898 - Conn built the first commercially available rain-catcher. Phased out Worcester plant in 1898. The label was continued until 1900.

I didn’t get it. I didn’t “need” it either but there is just something that would be so cool about showing up at a community band rehearsal with a horn that was built while Brahms was still alive.

It wasn't me. I bailed at less than half that much.

Someone paid $840 for it. The buyer will have had their reasons for spending that much and maybe one day we’ll get to hear them. I’m wondering whether the instrument was bought to be played, and if not then for what use.