Tuba Tuesday: E. A. Couturier “Conical Bore” Bb euphonium

[bisontuba]

Happy Tuba Tuesday

In todays’s edition, from the Museum, we feature one of our more unusual instruments: our E. A. Couturier “Conical Bore” Bb euphonium circa 1920.

This instrument is very unusual in that it is completely conical throughout the entire instrument, including all four pistons. It also has no valve tuning slides because all the valve tubes are continuously conical making it one of only two instruments (we also have a Couturier helicon with the same design) in the collection with this design, which Couturier patented in 1913.

E. A. Couturier produced instruments under his name from 1918 until 1923 when the company was purchased by Lyon and Healy.


https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... -4-piston/

[humBell]

I always liked Couturier from a philosophical stand point, as his instruments have the minimum of things you can adjust. It's like driving automatic.

But then again, i have low standards for my results too. So it's like driving an automatic that way, too.

Admittedly, i haven't put any regular rehearsal time nor performance (except perhaps busking?) on a Couturier, so i don't really know what i'm talking about, but the concept still apeaks to me.

And Couturier himself is fascinating to read about.