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Tony George (Royal Conservatory of Scotland) informs us that the purpose of front-action tubas is to be able to play them whilst riding horseback.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/437958012505739

I thought that was what helicons were for..................

For whatever reason, here in the old world where the helicon originated, I believe it's common practice to not use them (nor sousaphones), but to carry a lap type tuba into whatever circumstances. And around here that certainly means front valves (or side valves, as we used to say back when.)

In the video, though, the guy's pointing at what really is a side valve, the 4th valve sticking out like they do on some top valve designs. He seems to be saying, if you're going to ride a horse while playing the tuba, you'd want a tuba where you need both hands to work the valves. This seems to be about "Victorian" brass instruments, which may or may not account for any of it.

Meanwhile, the cruel knob that's installed on the bottom bow of the tuba is (am I right?) to hold it in place on the saddle - and those are all top valve, aren't they?

I don’t know about a saddle, but the knob did button into a harness/strap for marching. I have one around here somewhere. If I run across it, I’ll post a picture.

I shudder to think what four top action rotors would be like.

jtm wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:59 pm I shudder to think what four top action rotors would be like.

jtm wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:59 pm I shudder to think what four top action rotors would be like.

There was an old silver Martin 6/4 ish BBb tuba with 4 top rotors floating around years ago. I remember it being posted on the old forum, and it had been at Dan Oberloh's shop.

arpthark wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:02 pm

jtm wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:59 pm I shudder to think what four top action rotors would be like.

That's the one!

Just like this! You guys are fast!

At any given time, there is a cadre of top-action rotary valve Martin fans, waiting to pounce...

If you go see Vince Simoetti’s collection you will learn that every conceivable Rube Goldberg valve operating system has been tried at least once.

Because rear-action tubas are frowned upon.

Schlitzz wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2024 12:49 pm Because rear-action tubas are frowned upon.

I strive to be tolerant.

Going to disagree with this one.

If you look at the original Moritz tuba design, it was 3 valves in the right hand and two on the right, likely derived from the old ophicleide system with reduced buttons. The 4+2 set up of Germanic rotor tubas is quite old. Sources in my research show that if anything, the ophicleide was made for marching.

About 6-7 years after the advent of the Moritz Bass Tuba was the invention of the Saxhorn family in France, and the proximity is why this became standard in England.

The over the shoulder horns in America, a variation of the bass horn, could very much so be for horseback, but front action tubas really didn’t evolve from that—more from the German front action tubas.

I remember watching that Martin auction years ago.

When watching peeps bid it up, I couldn't imagine those rotors not being worn - or certainly not that linkage.

"sour grapes...??" nah...It was fascinating watching the bidding, but I'm not particularly a Marteenophile...and - even though this room is pretty large - I'm not a collector, and nor am I an instrument history buff. I already have way to many things that I actually use to make noise in exchange for money, without also storing washing-machine-sized curios. ...NC tuba museum...?? There are a few too many instruments in that place (imo) that should be sold, as a certain percentage of them are viable as workhorses, and not just as wall art.