A list of my projects and Frankentuba things/parts available/parts sought
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:45 am
This is sort of a for-sale post for these spare parts I have, but also a way for me to keep track of the things I am doing in case anyone is interested.
Projects and things in the works:
Miraphone 186 leadpipe/receiver replacement (viewtopic.php?t=8933)
- Have de-dented the bell; repairman I work with seems hesitant to pull the upper bow guard to take that big dent out, so it'll stay for now unless I feel fiesty at home.
3v Miraphone BBb project
- Need to anneal and run dent balls through the mouthpipe, hammer out the bell a bit and put it all back together.
Carl Fischer "Reliable" Eb helicon
- Plays great, but I need to take a dent out of one of the inner branches (where the Eb bugle bends back on itself) and add a brace to the 3rd valve tubing. At some point, someone decided to use epoxy to fix some broken solder joints which makes for a very stinky experience when trying to repair them.
Cleveland 605 trombone
- Upper bell section split due to a manufacturing defect. :-( Trying to decide if it makes more sense to braze it shut or just patch it.
Conn 73H
- Needs a better roller for the dependent valve trigger, and the linkage needs to be straightened out a little bit. Could stand some dent work on the bell, too. Once the linkage issue is addressed it'll be a great player. I also have this listed for sale as-is right now for $1,100 if anyone wants it. Come with E and D slides.
Henry Distin "Medium" Eb
- Trying to chase down a leak in the third valve tubing. Also, this was converted from high pitch to low pitch, but in doing so the valve slides were also extended by quite a lot (I can see the logic, but acoustically, this is not a winning combination). I'd like to remove the extensions from the valve slides. In doing so, I may find the leak anyway.
Boston high-pitch Eb
- Threads on the upper valve caps are worn and the percussive action of the pistons knocks them loose occasionally. Mitigated somewhat with weaker springs. Also needs a pretty wide patch on the bell from where the rim has detached. This is a neat horn, ca. 1900 and marked "USQMD".
Boston low-pitch Eb
- This has been put in pretty good playing condition, but the second valve is a replacement from another Boston and the tuning slide tubes are skewed.
Conn Director trumpet
- Needs a valve alignment and general straightening out. It came to me a bit smushed. I have unsmushed it to an extent, but it needs further unsmushening.
Bundy cornet
- In great shape aside from a busted/shredded leadpipe. Need to find a replacement. This is a "designed by Vincent Bach" model. Cute little horn.
Bach "Liberty" trombone
- Made in China I think. Some bad dentwork needs to be corrected and smoothed out. Looks like somebody really went to town with a dent machine without knowing how to use it. Not a terrible player.
Frankentuba Parts/odds and ends/projects
Any of the above is available for purchase except the Carl Fischer helicon (and maybe the Boston LP and Distin Ebs). I also have:
Czech helicon in "E" with no main tuning slide
- Interesting cut job from Eb to F that ended up a bit too long. Plays pretty well. I learned "E" fingerings for TubaChristmas one year and played it. 123 low Bb, what fun. $50
Conn/Lyon & Healy F Tuba Project
- My plan was to cut down a 2341/1241 valve set and attach it. It formerly had a very leaky valve set attached that demonstrated that the bugle plays well in-tune and that it is a great-sounding tuba. It was cut down from a Lyon & Healy Eb; I think this L&H was actually a Conn stencil but I am not sure. It has a dogleg and King MTS attached, just gotta source the valves. I would be interested in buying a set of valves for this project, or in selling it as-is. Silver, few dents, lots of tarnish. Make an offer?
I have a bunch of parts that I do not need right now: Bundy sousaphone gooseneck, trumpet carcasses, orange Pbone, King (?) sousaphone receiver and lower mouthpipe, loads of ferrules, trumpet Z braces, lots and lots of trumpet valve casing, mellophone (old school french horn shape) valve section, way too many odds and ends to list right now. I'm trying to hang on to all my King tubing, but I have a few other random baritone/tuba parts, along with some trombone tuning slides/receivers/tenons and things like that. Basically, if you are looking for something random and have measurements, let me know and I can see if I have it.
Projects and things in the works:
Miraphone 186 leadpipe/receiver replacement (viewtopic.php?t=8933)
- Have de-dented the bell; repairman I work with seems hesitant to pull the upper bow guard to take that big dent out, so it'll stay for now unless I feel fiesty at home.
3v Miraphone BBb project
- Need to anneal and run dent balls through the mouthpipe, hammer out the bell a bit and put it all back together.
Carl Fischer "Reliable" Eb helicon
- Plays great, but I need to take a dent out of one of the inner branches (where the Eb bugle bends back on itself) and add a brace to the 3rd valve tubing. At some point, someone decided to use epoxy to fix some broken solder joints which makes for a very stinky experience when trying to repair them.
Cleveland 605 trombone
- Upper bell section split due to a manufacturing defect. :-( Trying to decide if it makes more sense to braze it shut or just patch it.
Conn 73H
- Needs a better roller for the dependent valve trigger, and the linkage needs to be straightened out a little bit. Could stand some dent work on the bell, too. Once the linkage issue is addressed it'll be a great player. I also have this listed for sale as-is right now for $1,100 if anyone wants it. Come with E and D slides.
Henry Distin "Medium" Eb
- Trying to chase down a leak in the third valve tubing. Also, this was converted from high pitch to low pitch, but in doing so the valve slides were also extended by quite a lot (I can see the logic, but acoustically, this is not a winning combination). I'd like to remove the extensions from the valve slides. In doing so, I may find the leak anyway.
Boston high-pitch Eb
- Threads on the upper valve caps are worn and the percussive action of the pistons knocks them loose occasionally. Mitigated somewhat with weaker springs. Also needs a pretty wide patch on the bell from where the rim has detached. This is a neat horn, ca. 1900 and marked "USQMD".
Boston low-pitch Eb
- This has been put in pretty good playing condition, but the second valve is a replacement from another Boston and the tuning slide tubes are skewed.
Conn Director trumpet
- Needs a valve alignment and general straightening out. It came to me a bit smushed. I have unsmushed it to an extent, but it needs further unsmushening.
Bundy cornet
- In great shape aside from a busted/shredded leadpipe. Need to find a replacement. This is a "designed by Vincent Bach" model. Cute little horn.
Bach "Liberty" trombone
- Made in China I think. Some bad dentwork needs to be corrected and smoothed out. Looks like somebody really went to town with a dent machine without knowing how to use it. Not a terrible player.
Frankentuba Parts/odds and ends/projects
Any of the above is available for purchase except the Carl Fischer helicon (and maybe the Boston LP and Distin Ebs). I also have:
Czech helicon in "E" with no main tuning slide
- Interesting cut job from Eb to F that ended up a bit too long. Plays pretty well. I learned "E" fingerings for TubaChristmas one year and played it. 123 low Bb, what fun. $50
Conn/Lyon & Healy F Tuba Project
- My plan was to cut down a 2341/1241 valve set and attach it. It formerly had a very leaky valve set attached that demonstrated that the bugle plays well in-tune and that it is a great-sounding tuba. It was cut down from a Lyon & Healy Eb; I think this L&H was actually a Conn stencil but I am not sure. It has a dogleg and King MTS attached, just gotta source the valves. I would be interested in buying a set of valves for this project, or in selling it as-is. Silver, few dents, lots of tarnish. Make an offer?
I have a bunch of parts that I do not need right now: Bundy sousaphone gooseneck, trumpet carcasses, orange Pbone, King (?) sousaphone receiver and lower mouthpipe, loads of ferrules, trumpet Z braces, lots and lots of trumpet valve casing, mellophone (old school french horn shape) valve section, way too many odds and ends to list right now. I'm trying to hang on to all my King tubing, but I have a few other random baritone/tuba parts, along with some trombone tuning slides/receivers/tenons and things like that. Basically, if you are looking for something random and have measurements, let me know and I can see if I have it.