A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

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Dave Detwiler
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A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by Dave Detwiler »

Hi all - I was at the Ringgold Band room yesterday, to do some research related to the wonderful photos that they have all around the room, and while I was there I was able to check out an historic horn that they have stored there: a 1906 Joseph Higham Ltd. helicon tuba!

Here are photos of the horn, along with what I've learned about it so far: https://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2023/08 ... licon.html

Enjoy!
Dave

1906 Joseph Higham helicon.jpg
1906 Joseph Higham helicon.jpg (152.04 KiB) Viewed 1066 times
Last edited by Dave Detwiler on Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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prairieboy1 (Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:02 am) • matt g (Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:55 am) • rodgeman (Sat Aug 19, 2023 12:24 pm) • Jim Williams (Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:21 pm) • groovlow (Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:48 pm) and 4 more users


Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1925 Pan American Sousaphone and an 1899 Conn tuba!
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prairieboy1
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by prairieboy1 »

Thank you for posting this! You always come up with the coolest information and photos. It would be terrific to see this horn being restored and then played on a regular basis. Keep posting!! :tuba: :clap: :clap:
1916 Holton "Mammoth" 3 valve BBb Upright Bell Tuba
1935 King "Symphony" Bass 3 valve BBb Tuba
1998 King "2341" 4 valve BBb Tuba
1970 Yamaha "321" 4 valve BBb Tuba (Yard Goat)
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Heavy_Metal
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by Heavy_Metal »

Maybe they could host a TubaChristmas sometime featuring these horns? I'd bring my old York to that.............
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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tofu
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Post by tofu »

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Last edited by tofu on Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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humBell
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by humBell »

Does 4=3+2?
"All art is one." -Hal
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humBell
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by humBell »

Additionally huge kudos to them for keeping the neck on hand!
The ratcheted tension adjustments are still my favorite.

And having looked at the post and not just the discussion and jumping to conclusions based on my preconceived notions...

I'm still trying to figured out the player in the 1923 picture...
has his left arm over the wrap and his hand on the bell!?

How does that work?
"All art is one." -Hal
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Kirley
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by Kirley »

humBell wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:17 pm I'm still trying to figured out the player in the 1923 picture...
has his left arm over the wrap and his hand on the bell!?

How does that work?
I totally see what you think you’re seeing. But his “sleeve” is actually his lyre folio book. And “his” hand is actually the hand of another player walking behind and to his left. Maybe clarinet?

If you click on the photo and zoom in you can see the little details that help explain it.
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humBell
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by humBell »

Kirley wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:56 pm
humBell wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:17 pm I'm still trying to figured out the player in the 1923 picture...
has his left arm over the wrap and his hand on the bell!?

How does that work?
I totally see what you think you’re seeing. But his “sleeve” is actually his lyre folio book. And “his” hand is actually the hand of another player walking behind and to his left. Maybe clarinet?

If you click on the photo and zoom in you can see the little details that help explain it.
It i likely another player's sleeve. It could still be his hand, but that is definitely the lyre and folio book occluding the wrap, which removes the puzzle of what is holding the helicon up.

Thanks a bunch!
"All art is one." -Hal
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arpthark
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Re: A hidden treasure in the Ringgold Band room!

Post by arpthark »

Image

Bass sax sighting...?
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