TubaForum.net

For sale is this extremely interesting Tuba.

What I can confirm was that it was made by TM (Theophil Marcus) Koeder in Naperville Illinois. This was probably a professional frankentuba, more custom than franken. The valves are Holton, and the body is probably German. TM Koeder was a former employee of Holton.

What I can’t confirm, is that ALLEGEDLY it was made for Arnold Jacobs but eventually used by Dan Corrigan in the Indianapolis symphony. I can’t confirm this, but it’s fun to think who used this tuba. This is definitely a unique instrument and the only example of a TM Koeder built tuba.

The tuba plays great. It has a solid low register and has a lot of punch and power if you push it. It is incredibly light. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a handmade instrument, so the response is amazing. It’s about the size of a 186, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve seen one.

40” Tall
Big 0.810’ bore
17 inch bell

It also comes with a blue gig bag.

My favorite part of the tuba is that every single brace is beautifully ornate and one piece. There is not a single two piece brace on the entire tuba.

There is some damage on the bell, but once someone makes the purchase I will have the bell rolled out, dents taken out, and cleaned.






I would like $2,500 OBO
I would prefer not to ship, but I can at the buyers risk and expense.
I’m open to trades.


You can PM me here or email me at theodoresmi4129@gmail.com

Thanks for looking!

That's pretty rad.

Any markings or engraving on it anywhere?

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 1:22 pm That's pretty rad.

Any markings or engraving on it anywhere?

No, but the valve section is very similar to the J.W. Richardson model Holton Tuba. Also, TM Koeder has an extensive history with Holton, and has used Holton parts for his much more common (still pretty rare though) Trumpets and trombones.

The original valve buttons, which will come with the horn to any potential buyers, look very much Holton to me.

There's some stuff on Koeder on horn-u-copia, and some pix of instruments, but nothing on tubas. Doesn't sound like he did much in this space aside from this horn. There are also some old ads for Koeder trumpets up on reverb and ebay.

Remind me, where are you located?

0.810 bore on a piston horn? Dang... how long is the throw on those pistons?

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:42 pm Remind me, where are you located?

I live in northern Indiana but I go to Chicago almost every weekend.

Tubajug wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 3:15 pm 0.810 bore on a piston horn? Dang... how long is the throw on those pistons?

Very shockingly short. Way better than MW 0.750” valves.

Horn is gone!

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:42 amHorn is gone!

Did you sell it, or did it disappear?

Jk- Congrats!