Since I sold (to Bill) probably the best-playing 186 C on the planet, I probably won't ever end up building one for myself.
A local private school - every few years - purchases yet another 186 from me.
I have a good-condition old (no kranz) 186S bell that I COULD use, and also this nearly-perfect vintage bell (with kranz).
From long-time storage, there is one very small bump in the rim (pictured) and two or three hallow/soft depressions - which I will remove prior to sale as if this bell was to be installed on an instrument for my own use (ie. my very best efforts).
Before I stick this nearly-perfect condition/never-used kranz bell on a school tuba to sell, I'm going to offer it up for sale at a (ok. sure...) high price, and see if anyone is interested in having a new/vintage 16-1/2" bell (as a possible replacement) for their own instrument.
This is no special-order/recently-made bell. This bell predates the 17-3/4" bells - though I do not know by how much. It's likely not from the 1960's as the seam is concentric/horizontal. A wild/best guess would be that it might be a half-century old.
Someone (crayon? marker?) wrote "BBb" on the bell ages ago. It's quite faded from age. I haven't noticed a difference in the bells for the two versions, but (maybe?) there is/was a subtle difference, and/or maybe (??) the original buyer marked it that way, as "BBb" is what they ordered for their stock...(??)
$3000 buys it immediately, and I'm willing to look at any offers.
I'd prefer that it be picked up.
I don't like shipping fragile/non-replaceable things, and "worry" them all the way to their destinations.
WERE I to ship it, but buyer MUST agree that it becomes THEIR property, THEIR risk, and THEIR liability - once I hand it off to some agreed-upon shipper.
So far, this is the first/only place that I've offered it up.
