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Here is an unmarked tuba mouthpiece. I sure would like to know what it is so I can look for a new owner. It is a shallow cup with the cup shape being very pronounced just before the throat opening. The rim is very close to a regular tuba mouthpiece. The shank is small and too small to work in my regular tubas.

Thanks for any ideas.

TJ

Not sure, but would be interested to see the inside and the rim.

Given the shank size and the shallowness, I'm guessing it's something that came with a smaller Eb tuba (if American) or a British Eb tuba.

Whatever it is, it was used an awful lot. So it must have been a good match for something!

Here is a picture of the inside, along with a Chuck Dallenbach Helleberg-style piece. The unknown mouthpiece is best described as a deep cup mouthpiece. The first 2/3 of the inner profile is like the Helleberg funnel. Then, the last 1/3 before the throat is a very pronounced bowl shape.

I can feel some lathe turn lines in the back of the cup as well. Maybe the mouthpiece was hand-turned.

The exterior looks very similar to a York Al-Tru 15L I have.

I was thinking York as well, but had no photos to compare! But also, if it's York, it would probably say York.

I've seen some that just said Al-Tru, no York. However, I agree that typically they would be labeled as York.

York-aholic wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:27 am I've seen some that just said Al-Tru, no York. However, I agree that typically they would be labeled as York.

Named after famed York Performing Artist, Albert Tru?

During my mouthpiece study it became apparent that mouthpiece marking was not an exact science with York.
It may have started with them making both "York and Sons" and "Grand Rapids Band Instrument Co." mouthpieces of the same size. I've seen examples that said neither, or were missing any numeric marking altogether. This seems to have continued on to the AL-TRU series.

I came across mouthpieces that were missing "York", "AL-TRU", mouthpiece numbers, cup depths, or sometime combinations of them.
Quality assurance was evidently not part of producing quality mouthpieces...

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:29 am

York-aholic wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:27 am I've seen some that just said Al-Tru, no York. However, I agree that typically they would be labeled as York.

Named after famed York Performing Artist, Albert Tru?

The Al-Tru mouthpieces were well regarded as being selflessly concerned about the well-being of the tuba player and the tuba.

Ironically, my understanding is that Albert Tru was kind of a selfish jackass.

So, is the "York Al-Tru 15L" a small shank mouthpiece? If so, I think the mystery is solved. The tooling is identical. Thanks!

Tim Jackson wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:12 am So, is the "York Al-Tru 15L" a small shank mouthpiece? If so, I think the mystery is solved. The tooling is identical. Thanks!

I seem to think that mine (pictured) had a slightly larger than 'normal' shank, but I'll check tonight...

The one I have, has a slightly small shank. Putting it into a King 1240 (detachable bell model), the mouthpiece goes in until the big end of the receiver hits the mouthpiece’s expanding exterior taper, yet the mouthpiece’s small end is still loose in the receiver. Ie, it goes in too far without seating.

@Tim Jackson i sent you a different lyre holder than the picture I sent because I realized the silver one I pictured was from a Martin medium Eb. Hopefully the one I sent will work okay.