Lincoln, NE: V.F. Cerveny & Fils 1890’s Eb tuba

[sugawi]

Eb from 1890’s?
https://reverb.com/item/85852552-v-f-c ... onium-tuba

[arpthark]

Wicked cool!

@Tubajug, you need this!

[Tubajug]

Whoa! I wonder where they got that??

I might have to go check it out, though I have no cash to buy it...

[humBell]

Why couldn't more instruments have thumb rings like these?

In my opinion these are worth trying to restore?

Hard to tell though.

If memory serves, a slightly older (wider wrap or shorter bell stack, medalion only had one year) i know of got restored, and was what i first got a chance to figure out eb fingerings on. Listening to others play it at the time, it had a glorious sound and none of the intonation issues i ran into trying to play it...

[catgrowlB]

An old Eb Kaisertuba. Perfect tuba on Brahms

[arpthark]

13" stovepipe bell, kranz, keel, medallion, huge thumb ring with nickel-silver flange, big n.s. piece on the rear of the bell, mouthpiece, proprietary sideways rotors (forget the proper term), adjustable-tension clockspring mechanisms replete with engravings on valve caps, paddles and linkages... this one has it all!

[Mary Ann]

Yeahbut is it low pitch?

[LeMark]

in the words of Indiana Jones

It belongs in a museum!!

except there is already one like it in Durham, and if I was close enough to pick it up, I would have bought it myself days ago

[tofu]

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[tofu]

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[Tubajug]

Wow, great information, tofu. And a very interesting story!

I might be able to go check it out tonight. I will certainly take pictures and post what I find when I do.

[Tubajug]

I just went to go check it out. The store owner said he's had it for years and just got around to pulling it out to sell. He doesn't remember where he got it or any story behind it, unfortunately. He said a guy from Wisconsin is coming to look at it on Saturday, so it's currently on hold for him.

I didn't see any cracks or even really any popped braces. There is an abundance of solder at several places on the horn. The tape on the main slide could be hiding stuff, or the owner just wanted a better grip? The kranz was separated from the bell nearly all the way around and there was one spot that had been worn/chipped away. The leadpipe looks like it's been patched and then slathered with solder.

The first three valves move, the fourth is frozen. Either the springs are broken or are just not adjusted tight enough, because they did not move back up on their own. The first valve slide actually moves, the others are all frozen.

I brought a Miraphone Helleberg-type mouthpiece with me and gave it a blow on the open bugle. The receiver swallowed my American shank mouthpiece. The mouthpiece that is zip tied to it had what looked bits stuck to it. I forgot to look for a make or model on it. The Eb octaves are well in tune with themselves, though about 25 cents sharp according to my phone tuner. First line Bb was only about 15 cents sharp. Fourth space G was really flat. It had a really nice, warm sound. The pedal Eb popped right out. I didn't think to take a video of me playing it until after I left.

The pictures below are mostly of the solder spots around the horn. I did a quick video of the valves.

Hope this helps!

[catgrowlB]

Cool old horn, but has a lot of issues that need to be addressed My old Kaiser BBb is of a similar age and had (and still has) issues similar to this horn, mostly the bell rim. A fragile, special use tuba with a huge warm sound that still plays very well. But these old/ ancient horns often need work and are delicate.

[tofu]

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[MiBrassFS]

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