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If you have ever played one of those student model Miraphone 186 tubas, you know what the difference is: it's not much, but it's a little bit of something.

I love the Elkhart engraving with the elk, and I love the Grand Rapids USA line Engraving that I've seen on the cheap 19-in tuba bells. It's almost as if they are jealous of the top line, and are trying to show off for the other instruments in the factory that cost more.

Somebody could say that Pan American instruments had raw nickel silver pistons and Conn instruments had nickel plated pistons, but really old Conn also had raw nickel silver pistons.

Just as with all other merchandise, the most important thing is that economy models of so many things offer a lower price point, so a corporation or company can still make a profit off of those who have less money to spend.

We have all seen Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac versions of basically the same cars over the years... and the Cadillac might have a fancier engine, but it may or may not be a better engine or a more reliable engine.

On Grand Rapids - USA Line - York:

One of the lower priced lines (can't remember which, had no pearls on the finger buttons). Those two budget lines typically had the main slide in the leadpipe, but not always.

I had a York model 33 (20" bell 4/4 BBb) and the GRBICo equivalent (Slide in the leadpipe) for a while concurrently. Because of where the main slide was, the small tubing was different. The valve casings looked the same. The bugle taper looked the same, although ferrules were in slightly different spots (ie the joints between adjoining tubing might be higher up or lower down on one horn than the other). Both horns sounded the same and had similar intonation.

I LOVE that detail-engraved EAGLE on the USA Line tubas !\

also: ' tickled that I could find an example of it on the web...

Elkhart Band Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer in Elkhart, Indiana.
History

The company was founded in 1923 by Andrew Hubble Beardsley (b. Dayton Ohio 25 September 1864; d. New York NY 10 October 1936), who was the president of Buescher Band Instrument Company, and Carl Dimond Greenleaf (b. Wauseon, Ohio 27 July 1876; d. Elkhart 10 July 1959), president of C.G. Conn, and who served the new company as secretary-treasurer. The company produced "Elkhart" branded band instruments as well instruments to be sold under merchandisers' brands ("stencil" instruments). Instruments produced by the company had an irregular assortment of features borrowed from the products of Conn and Buescher, partners in the consortium.

In 1927 the company merged with Buescher (some maintain that Buescher was purchased by Elkhart Band Instrument Company). When Beardsley died in 1936, the company was dissolved and Buescher used the Elkhart trademark for student line instruments until 1959.

bloke wrote: ↑Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:04 pm I LOVE that detail-engraved EAGLE on the USA Line tubas !\

also: ' tickled that I could find an example of it on the web...

sidebar: I may be picking up one of these exact models (in a bit rougher shape) next week. And yes, before you say it, more bottom feeding on my part.

I suspect a bunch of people would vote for that eagle and that shield over that York engraving pattern.

Detail of the horn I am considering:

Engraved after it was plated.

Decided to pass on this one.

Sorry to hijack the Elkhart thread with junk from Grand Rapids.

More to the point, student line horns are pretty interesting, especially when they're not just a "no frills" student model a la the Miraphones sold by Tuba Exchange back in the day, but instead unique models like "junior" sousaphones and these BueschConn hybrid things.

Yep... BBb with 22" bell. 36" tall, gold wash bell. So many similar Buescher parts.
New pictures on the original post. I can't believe I bought another tuba. Wish I could find an Elkhart Band Instrument catalog.

Tj