I believe this was identified before, but it was just sent to me by a friend, and I can't remember what (meaning... who made it) or where it is. Can someone identify it (again) for me? Thanks. It is indeed the Harvard Tuba! Here's the history behind this colossal instrument: https://www.youtube.com...

It is indeed nice to hear it in action - thanks so much for sharing this link! Two things, however - a question, and a clarification: 1. Looking at this horn, is it really a subcontrabass tuba in C? That would require 32 feet of main tubing, and I don't see that. 2. Regardless, it is definitely not ...

While I have researched and written extensively on the history of the Sousaphone, most often in The ITEA Journal , I thought it might be nice to get a simple, visually interesting summary of the story behind the original Sousaphone out to the general public - just in case you're interested. Enjoy! h...

20” bell. Horn stands at 3 ft. 152864 - circa 1916? No other markings other than the bell design. It is most likely, then, that what you have is a C. G. Conn New Invention "Giant" Model Contra Eb Bass, from either 1916 or 1917 (depending on which serial number list you reference). Once ag...

Can you share the serial number, as well as the basic dimensions (bell diameter, weight)? That might help to hone in on which model it is. Just know that the model numbers (like 2J) didn't appear until around 1921. Here's everything I've collected so far related to Conn tubas: https://tubapastor.blo...

Hi all - with a snow day today, I decided to polish up Jack Richardson's little Sander tuba that was recently given to me by his great nephew. It looks fantastic for being roughly 100 years old!

Hi all - if you're interested in obscure Sousaphones, I played alongside one on Tuesday, and it was great fun!

Here's the link for the details: https://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2024/01 ... phone.html

I saw him in the early 80s, along with the USC Symphony Orchestra, when I was working as an usher for concerts in Bovard Auditorium while a student at USC. I was ushering in the balcony for that particular concert, and to my surprise, shortly before the concert started, Peter Schikele, dressed as P....

Will Dillon Music or someone else be willing to measure and/or copy the mouthpiece? It’s always interesting to get these historical mouthpieces faithfully copied if only for posterity but there’s also a chance it could be a good fit for some people. The mouthpiece, from what I can tell, is basicall...

Very cool. Was he a really tall guy? By the picture, it looks like a tall tuba and the lead pipe comes straight over rather than dipping down like most of that type. Was it modified for him? Sent from my SM-S367VL using Tapatalk I don't know the answer to your second question, but as to your first,...

Hi all - I made a trip out to Dillon Music yesterday to have Steve and Matt check out an old Rudolf Sander tuba that belonged to Jack Richardson, of Sousa Band fame. Included with the tuba, which was graciously given to me by Jack's great nephew, is his personal mouthpiece, stamped, "J. R."...

Hi all - my research on John W. "Jack" Richardson is moving along nicely. Here's what I've learned about the role that cigars played in his life. Enjoy!

https://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2023/11 ... again.html

I shouldn't post when I don't read the details, but if this was a really long time ago, someone was in the hospital for arthritis, and they broke their leg while they were in the hospital, I wonder if they actually had bone cancer which had not been diagnosed. You may be right, as his ultimate caus...

My gosh, Richardson was hospitalized with a broken leg in May '38 with a broken leg, then transferred to a different hospital where he died 15 months later at...age 64? 65? Actually, according to reports, he broke his leg while IN the hospital in Danville, where he was bring treated for complicatio...

Hi all - while looking for something else entirely, I stumbled upon a photo of the Iroquois Band of Lancaster which includes the first ever sighting of the original Sousaphone after it disappeared in 1896! You can read about it here: https://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2023/10/original-sousaphone-sighti...

Hi all - as I continue to research John W. "Jack" Richardson, I have learned that the U. S. Marine Band paid tribute to him on their daily radio program while he was in the hospital in 1938. The day of the broadcast was July 15, and the program was called "Patriotic Shut Ins Dream Hou...

It's unusually well documented, in this text image: https://yorkmaster.org/yorkmaster/photos/1983810379-1907-Boston-Musical-Instrument-Company-B/1800858186-Text.jpg The item is 1907 Boston Musical Instrument Company BBb helicon 3P Okay, so with a little more research, it appears that the Boston Mus...

My guess is Boston? Could be! Here's one from the Klaus collection (yorkmaster.org) https://yorkmaster.org/yorkmaster/photos/1983810379-1907-Boston-Musical-Instrument-Company-B/34335613-a.jpg Okay, so what are the details on this photograph? I couldn't find it in that vast collection! But the valve...

Hi all - I am researching John W. "Jack" Richardson, and have discovered that in 1897 he moved to Newark, NY ( not NJ!), where he worked as a cigar maker and played in a band made up of cigar makers. I've been able to locate a photo of that very band, from that very year, showing the 6 foo...

When and where was Mr. Richardson born? 1874, in Akron, Pennsylvania, which is in Lancaster County. He joined the Sousa Band in 1904, and played with that famous band for a combined 22 years (1904-1910, 1912-1917, 1923-1932). He retired in the Harrisburg area (Steelton), setting up a cigar shop (hi...