TubaForum.net

@russiantuba's post here https://tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?p=104425 sent me down a Jim Self rabbit hole, wherein I discovered a brief description of Old #1. It's a 1240 (not 1241), described as being c.1950, but it's older than that. https://www.bassethoundmusic.com/hardware.html That page is in rough shape, but the horn in question can be seen about halfway down on the right.

King BBb (pictured top right and 2nd row right), recording tuba, 3 piston valves (c. 1950) “Old #1”
This instrument was recently given to me by the music school at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Old #1 was the instrument that I played all through college and even won my audition for the U. S. Army Band on it.

3 valves, university education, Army Band audition.

Fixed bell, loop in the leadpipe. I think they stopped making those during/after WW2. I had one for several years (SN put mfg date at 1927), good horns.

sdloveless wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:04 am
3 valves, university education, Army Band audition.

Didn't Arnold Jacobs audition for the Curtis Institute on a Conn 4v Eb with the 4th valve taped down to effectively put it in BBb? Then when he was going to be turned down for being underweight (don't I wish I had that problem), his dad gorged him on milkshakes to meet the minimum weight requirements?

I've had one of those fixed recording bell 3v Kings and mine played very well also. (There, back on topic.)

York-aholic wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:26 pm I've had one of those fixed recording bell 3v Kings and mine played very well also. (There, back on topic.)

I do think mine is a pretty good horn. I haven't used it with the community band, yet, but I think it'll probably see some use this summer. I'm assuming we'll play a bunch of Sousa...

These horns are pretty darn good. The first tuba I bought and still have. Also, used by Ray Draper on his first recording. I think I remember reading that he was like 13.