Guessing tuba age by construction details?

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jtm
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Guessing tuba age by construction details?

Post by jtm »

Can -- for example -- Miraphone rotor details be used to (very vaguely) guess at the age of a tuba?

Like, did S-links change to miniball quickly over a couple of years, or did new models get them before older ones changed?

Was the engraving on the rotor caps a feature that came and went at specific times? Or did some models have them at the same time that others didn't?

And when did keels go away?


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bloke
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Re: Guessing tuba age by construction details?

Post by bloke »

The keels became shorter in the late 60’s/early 70s, and DVS linkage (adjustable nylon socket on a steel ball) was introduced around that time as well, which was before sealed bearing links, yet – in my opinion – just as good.
S-arm linkage featured nylon bushings as early as the mid-1960.
Smaller gauge stainless steel outside sprung lever springs – rather than larger gauge nickel silver ones – also began to appear in the 1970s.

There have actually been quite a few changes, and quite a few very short-lived “let’s try this-es” as well.

Trying to remember all of this stuff is sort of like attempting to list all of the exceptions in English grammar and spelling.
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