This Tuba Tuesday the Museum features a very rare Allen & Hall, Boston, with 4 Allen valves Over The Shoulder Eb Tuba. The rotary valves are the Allen style ‘pinched’ rotor for a shorter stroke.
On the shield on the bell of the instrument, it says: “Allen & Hall/ Makers/ 534 Washington St/ Boston.”
The year 1861 at 334 Washington St. starts Allen & Hall with David Hall joining Mr. Allen.
Joseph Lathrop Allen had a career manufacturing instruments throughout the northeastern United States during much of the 19th century. He is best known for his invention, the Allen-type rotary valve, which are used on Top Action Rotary Valve instruments. Allen valves went from the circular bore of the horn to an oval shape inside the valve; thus reducing the diameter of the valve significantly, and therefore making the valve both lighter and faster, requiring less distance and force to actuate it. They are often known as pinched rotors.
This instrument was originally part of the collection of the late Dr. James W. Thorpen, M.D., of Casper, Wyoming.
https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... rn-c-1862/