The "big B" Buescher saxophones were made from 1941 - 1951, so I would reasonably place this sousaphone bell within that same era.
Imagine an engraving pattern very similar to this spread across the top half of a very large sousaphone bell:
https://guitars.gbase.com/aza/user/gear ... tage-5.jpg
Rather than 24 inches, this is a 26 inch bell, YET will fit a 14K Conn sousaphone body.
THIS BELL'S COLLAR IS TOO SMALL TO FIT A CONN SHORT-ACTION SOUSAPHONE !!!
I have it stored in a 26-inch vintage bass drum case (in remarkably good condition...brown, rather than black) and am perfectly willing to donate that as a shipping carton.
I REALLY did a nice job (a few years ago) of smoothing out the minor creases and dents - and even buffed over it once (not so as to remove metal, but only to remove light tool marks). I never color-buffed it and lacquered it, so it can be buffed and lacquered OR silver plated.
IF you expect me to polish and lacquer it, add $300 to the price, pay in advance for the bell as well as for these services, be willing to accept (if these occur?) possible minor dust, possibly a run or two, I WON'T polish out every scuff nor scratch (just color buff as it stands), and expect a delay.
ie. I'm really NOT interested in EITHER polishing/lacquering NOR polishing and certainly NOT having it silver plated for the buyer.
"AS IS" is the operative phrase.
I should probably hold on to this (because - when I sell stuff like this - I usually end up wishing I had not), but here it is anyway.
$450 as is exists - all smoothed out very nicely, and in that 26-inch bass drum case.
I do appreciate offers, but (as much trouble/expense as I went to in order to get this thing and to straighten it out), I would prefer to let it sit (again: I could imagine needing it - such as a bell to match the bell diameter of a 14K next to a bunch of Kings, etc.) rather than accept less.
Shipping is NOT included. You can pick it up (I'll house/feed you overnight), or I can explore shipping (FedExGround, etc.) options.
I'll SENT pictures to anyone interested, and - if two or three immediately express interest - I'll POST two or three pictures.
(I'd rather not mess with pictures, if there's no interest.)
