A positive surprise - a tiny Philipp Reichel Eb

[ThirdHorn]

While researching potential tubas to buy for tuba beginners in our school band, I have been collecting specs of potential candidates (such as Wessex "Elf", John Packer JP077 and the like). However, there is also the option of servicing older stuff in the band basement, so I have been testing out our assortment of old B&H Regent / Besson Westminster instruments. They are light and small, but to be honest: not that great.

But then I came across a couple of very old Philipp Reichel (Markneukirchen) tubas, brought one home for some servicing, and started playing on the tiny thing - and what a surprise. Playability on another level; just great fun to mess around with, and it wants to produce pedal notes like there's no tomorrow. Intonation quite good for a 3-valve horn. Bell size slightly bigger than a Regent (12.6 inches), but less tall (73 cm), and what must be a sub-5 kg weight. I have difficulty imagining a starter instrument you could buy new today which will be better than these. There is however not much information to be found online about the Philipp Reichel company (would be happy to learn more!), and I can suspect these instruments are getting more and more rare due to high age. What's for sure is that we will keep ours and spend some money on them to get them into shape.

[graybach]

Very cool find.


Not a lot of info about Philip Reichel, but some…

From this website:
https://www.horn-u-copia.net/Reference/ ... hisrec=670

August Reichel
Markneukirchen
Germany
1868 - 1930
1868-1930

ARJUMA is actualy the name of the factory that was started in 1868 by August Reichel. Arjuma is short for August Reichel Junior Markneukirchen. They gathered fame for training instrument makers and besides his own sons the first of the Knopf and the Monnig family where trained here and also Gustav Jehring and August Spengler who all started their own musicalinstrument workshops in Markneukirchen.

Philipp Reichel was established in 1908, after training with Emil Knoth from 1884 to 1900. Taken over by the V.E.B Group in 1975.

The last of the Reichel family that worked in the musicalinstrument busyness was Karl Armin Reichel who died in 1962.


Much more info about the company that bought Philip Reichel out, V.E.B. Group. Website was in German, so I put the English here:
Website: https://schlaggitarren.de/archtop/musim ... eukirchen/

Translation:
MUSIMA was founded in 1952 as a state-managed enterprise with 20 employees. Initially named VEK (*Volkseigener Kreisbetrieb* – People-Owned District Enterprise) *Musikinstrumentenbau Markneukirchen*, the company was renamed VEB (*Volkseigener Betrieb* – People-Owned Enterprise) MUSIMA in 1953. MUSIMA began operations using outdated machinery and leftover materials from expropriated companies. It is reported that the expropriated firms ERoma (Heinrich Roth II), C.A. Götz of Wernitzgrün, and Wenzel Rossmeisl (ROGER Guitars) provided the initial stock of materials and machinery.

MUSIMA’s first headquarters were located on Gartenstraße in Markneukirchen. The business grew rapidly, and as the workforce expanded, the premises became too small. The much larger facilities of the MARMA company were located at Pestalozzistraße 21; MARMA was forced to make way for MUSIMA and relinquish its factory buildings, settling instead for the older premises on Gartenstraße. In addition to the central production facility, there were smaller workshops supplying instruments, strings, and components. Within just five years—and with state assistance—the company developed into the GDR’s largest specialized manufacturer of plucked and bowed string instruments. Other products included recorders, strings, and accessories.

MUSIMA was intended to be a flagship enterprise for the GDR; consequently, it was equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and large material warehouses to enable mass production. As production steadily increased and exports expanded to a growing number of countries worldwide, the facilities on Pestalozzistraße also became too small. In 1964, the construction of a new building was approved, and the necessary funds were allocated. Ground was broken that same year for a large new factory at Pestalozzistraße 25—located on the road from Markneukirchen to Wohlhausen, directly below the new industrial park where Framus/Warwick has been based since 1995. The traditional Vogtland company RUBNER (machine heads and accessories), among others, is also located there. The new buildings were inaugurated in the second half of 1967. The old buildings on Pestalozzistraße continued to be used as a training workshop. The new facilities were equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure high production volumes and top-quality instruments. In addition to technical equipment, the site featured an on-site medical station, rest rooms, and a canteen for employees. As a major exporter, MUSIMA was a significant source of foreign currency for the state. During the same period, new production facilities for accordion and harmonica manufacturing were built in Klingenthal, and a new division of the VEB Brass and Signal Instrument Factory was established for wind instrument production starting in 1967. In the late 1970s, many semi-state-owned enterprises were merged into VEB Musima and VEB Brass and Signal Instruments; this included PGH SINFONIA, founded in 1960, which was split between the two state-owned enterprises. By the late 1980s, VEB Musima employed around 1,200 people.

Following the political changes of 1989, MUSIMA (operating as MUSIMA GmbH since 1990) had to adapt to new market-economy conditions, streamline operations, and increase profitability. Many of the small satellite facilities belonging to MUSIMA were closed, and there were numerous layoffs.

In 1992, MUSIMA GmbH was acquired by Helmut Stumpf and Fritz Kropp (from the former West Germany) and was subsequently renamed MUSIMA “Manufaktur GmbH.” During this period, guitars were also manufactured for the Giessen-based company "Lakewood." These included the D-8 model (mahogany and spruce) and the D-12 model (maple and spruce). Around 2,000 of these Lakewood guitars were produced at MUSIMA over the course of five years. Unlike the Lakewood guitars manufactured in Giessen, these featured an inlaid "L" on the headstock instead of the full brand name.

Musima GmbH filed for bankruptcy on May 1, 1997, resulting in total insolvency proceedings.

In 1998, Bodo Bärwinkel from Cottbus took over the main factory, but he, too, filed for bankruptcy in 2003. The MUSIMA company was permanently closed after 51 years.
This final takeover sparked considerable speculation and dispute. However, as I do not focus much on this period—my primary interest lying in the years 1950 to 1970—I refer readers to the article "Die Ost-Gitarre am Beispiel von Musima und Migma" (The East German Guitar: The Case of Musima and Migma) by my colleague Ulf Schaedla.

[bloke]

Some of those guitar headstocks (shape) would be illegal (at least, actionable) - at least in the US.
the tuba...rare!



https://i.imgur.com/JBDtLwD.png

[prodigal]

Markneukirchen is known for making some fine tubas!

[Thomas]

I can second that. I experienced a similar surprise when I purchased a 1906 Boosey & Co. compensated 3+1 Eb extended to standard pitch. This tiny horn sounds beautiful and plays easier than an euphonium. Only downside playing-wise there is a lot of resistance playing F and E in the low register (134, 1234). Intonation is fine. Pedal notes are great.

I recently had the original solbron valves replaced with new stainless steel copies which improved the characteristics even more and I can use modern light valve oil. That was even quiet a budget option to get a modern small tuba.

Of course the use is limited to small ensembles or 1st bass voice in a wind band. But that is what I use this tuba for, e.g. for our church concert in winter.

[Charlie C Chowder]

I found the list of countries of export Interesting in how they grouped the them. They did not use alphabetical order. They seem to be grouped geographically. But Cuba is not with the western hemisphere.

CCC

[Mary Ann]

Someone on this site (Ace Morgan) has something that looks like that -- he was sitting behind me in a concert band a few years ago (I was playing horn,) and I heard a difference one night. I thought he had gotten himself a BBb! (He's an Eb guy.) But nope, it was a three banger Eb that had a fabulous sound. I believe he is quite happy with it still.

And, BTW, I think all kids should start on an Eb like this. Give them something they are able to blow and that is worth doing the blowing on.