...The 91-year-old Holton 4-valve baritone that I sold...

[bloke]

I haven't asked the buyer for any dough, yet, but - now that I've finished fixing up those two old recording-to-upright old King model 1240 tubas (for a local middle school) - I'm going to concentrate on this Holton baritone/euphonium instrument...

(...and - praise the Lord - another local school bought the 60-year-old Miraphone (on to which I spliced a 19" Miraphone recording bell FLAIR - yet, as an UPRIGHT bell...resulting in sort-of a "semi-piggy" 186...so - after this Holton - you guys can watch me fix up that goofball-looking yet: good-playing/good-sounding - old Miraphone. The same school owns a bunch of St. Pete's...so this should fit in pretty well. I actually have looked all around to see if someone might nickel plate this Miraphone - once it's all slicked out...but no one will. Ed Strege has a nickel tank that is JUST large enough, but he's afraid that the anode might accidentally touch, and screw up the job, so...)

I haven't asked the Holton baritone buyer for any funds, yet, but will as soon as I have to spend some on it (related to this restoration), because they're going the whole nine yards with it - including a re-plate.

I've removed the bottom bow, and picked over the bottom bow dents, but the instrument also needs to be brought up to pitch. This will involve shortening the bottom bow somewhat, and shortening the main slide somewhat. Doing BOTH will keep those two bows lined up with each other, and will keep the overall appearance "proportional" - while also not taking away very much tuning range.

Additionally, the buyer wants to restore the satin silver finish, so this thread (again...I don't take many pictures, so...) will (poorly) document this job.

It's actually a LARGE instrument, with an 11-inch bell, a nearly-.580" bore and a full .600" 4th valve bore...It's just that it's front-action, non-compensating, and elongated...so it does not have an "English euphonium" appearance, but - rather - an American-baritone-with-an-upright-bell appearance.

[matt g]

Were you able to talk them into a 5th valve to make it a fully chromatic tiny tuba?

[jtm]

Were you able to talk them into a 5th valve to make it a fully chromatic tiny tuba?

I don't think he even tried, beyond saying that the 4th valve tubing has a generously large bore.

[jtm]

(deleted double post)

[Yorkboy]

Dang - I've always wanted to build a front action euphonium, but haven't been able to find a suitably-large-enough valve set....this horn appears to have hit that mark without any need to alter it.

FWIW, if it were mine, I definitely would have added a 5th...

[bloke]

As the secret-spender would report, I'm really not attempting to pump them with "ups and extras".

That having been said...If that were to actually happen (and, I assume not), the rotor casing and cap should probably be sent of a have the chrome plating stripped off them.

[jtm]

FWIW, if it were mine, I definitely would have added a 5th...

I think a 5th valve would be fun. Joe might be actively discouraging that; I can't tell. Maybe it spoils what could be called a "thorough restoration", adding a rotor to an antique piston horn, but I don't know the rules. Might just be deemed too expensive for this instrument.

Maybe wanting a 5th valve on a large baritone is a sign that I need a small F tuba....

[bloke]

...so not every last little dink and crease has/have yet been removed...and it's certainly not yet ready to send off to be plated...
...BUT it will NOW play ABOVE A=440 pitch level. (The tuner shots, below, represent the pitch with a small shank Schilke 51 mouthpiece (not super-deep, but also not shallow) with the main slide pushed all the way in.

I removed a total of two inches of bugle length...one inch from the bottom bow, and one inch from the main slide...so - at this point, there is a little bit of a pull (depending on the player and the mouthpiece) for A=440 tuning. (The room was 70° F.)

[bloke]

OK...
I guess it's time to ask the person interested in buying it for some dough (assuming they're still interested).
TO REVIEW...
This is a LARGE-bore (.580" 1-2-3 & .600" - 4, stamped "1-1/2" - meaning "friggin' large bore") four-valve Holton baritone from 1929 - low pitch ("l. p." on the receiver) / copper pistons / ORIGINAL silver plating.
It was somewhat beat-up, covered with (formerly clear but turned quite BROWN) lacquer over the silver (a no-no), and would not play up to A=440.
It's now a nice instrument with no dents that plays at modern pitch.
No money has changed hands, but it's (sure: unless they decide otherwise) sold.
(The original case is with it, but need some fiberglass cloth, new tolex, and more.)





@jtm

[prairieboy1]

Wow! That's beautiful work!

[matt g]

Looks fantastic, @bloke!

[bloke]

I was told by someone - on another forum - that this model was referred to by Holton in advertising as “mammoth bore”.

.580”/.600” certainly must have seemed huge, back then.

[Three Valves]

Someone should have such a sympathetic restoration done to their tuba...

[Kirley]

That sure is a pretty horn.
Nice work, bloke!
Thanks for sharing the pics.

[bloke]

Thank you, sir.
Roughly a year or more ago, I decided to start selling off projects that I knew I would never finish. It has made me smile to see at least two of those finished by others, and they are playing them, enjoying them, and are proud of them.
Now, I’m trying to finish projects that I think I actually can finish.
Admittedly, I am tackling some of the easier ones first.
Maybe…?? Every 10th project or so might be one that I will do for myself.
Some may have noticed that I have put my compact Holton Bb personal project on hold. The next one in line is that funny old Miraphone with the short bell - fashioned from a Miraphone recording bell flair (so it still actually has a bell Kranz). That one - purchase order in hand - is sold to a nearby school...and after that one is a presold two-piece 2341 King.
If I can stay well, maybe I can dig out of a little bit of a financial hole...?? I’m sure that millions of other Americans are in the same boat.