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Here's a recent set of 4/4 Conn E-flat body parts (bell and bows) that I was sent (and straightened out - dent/crease removal, etc.) for a franken-upgrade.

These were 18-inch bell instruments and made in the 190X years.

In my experience (as well as the builder's) these bell-bugle sets offered far superior intonation compared to the later (larger) "monster" E-flats they built.

This one - reportedly is a hopeful keeper for this person, and not for selling.

It will receive a 5th rotor.

Many of you probably know who is doing this build.

I'm available for body work (for YOUR subsequent franken-builds) when I'm not otherwise crazy busy.

As I've explained before, the dent removal and bell straightening is as much as I'll willing to be contracted to do for franken-jobs.

When I'm close to done, I go ahead and lightly polish the parts - to check for any remaining dents and traces of creases that I may have missed.

again...This is my favorite type of work, as it's mindless; I can listen to the radio and my hands will do the work without me having to either think very much at all nor execute tedious work.

I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a really great E-flat. I sold a same-model body/bell set (along with a never-used Willson E-flat valveset bought from DEG - towards the end of their existence) to another person (who actually lives quite close to the owner of this instrument.
Were I MORE of an E-flat player, I'd be really jealous of both of them.

This was originally a 3-valve FRONT action (no "reversal" required in the rebuild), and the solder joints (in the bugle) were quite intact, so I repaired the bugle without pulling it all apart.

That's a fantastic looking horn. I had a 4 front valve Giant and it just didn't play very well. One amusing aspect is that low B natural barely existed. 12 C was fantastic, Bb was ok, the open false tone was A natural, 234 G was solid. Having to play D 234 was a real bummer.

Mid sized is a 1916 (iirc) 'medium' HN White King Eb, that plays great, almost like a modern horn but it still has that wide Eb/D octave, not as bad as other old Eb's though. I played a fixed recording bell King Monster that was ridiculously bad, playing a simple Eb scale was like playing avant garde jazz. Euph is an Amati Mom bought me in high school.

What a gorgeous engraving on that Conn!

Bob Kolada wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 4:26 pm That's a fantastic looking horn. I had a 4 front valve Giant and it just didn't play very well. One amusing aspect is that low B natural barely existed. 12 C was fantastic, Bb was ok, the open false tone was A natural, 234 G was solid. Having to play D 234 was a real bummer.

Mid sized is a 1916 (iirc) 'medium' HN White King Eb, that plays great, almost like a modern horn but it still has that wide Eb/D octave, not as bad as other old Eb's though. I played a fixed recording bell King Monster that was ridiculously bad, playing a simple Eb scale was like playing avant garde jazz. Euph is an Amati Mom bought me in high school.

yes to all

It looks so... Naked.

Except for the leadpipe, you can see the entire bell and bottom bow, and after that, the Eb piping just doesn't take up all that much room. Super clean work, and it looks great.

Whenever I possibly can, I try to repair bottom bows without taking the caps off. I managed with that one that I fixed up for Wade for his 186 project, and I managed with this one.

It takes less time, I can charge the person less money (Wade's was a donation to the project, but whatever on that) and I can get on to the next thing for the next person sooner.

Also, I always try to respect the value of things that others do for me or for my family. I have a friend who is trying to help a family member of ours who is struggling to obtain an entry level job in a company from which the friend recently retired. They showed up today to say hello after purchasing a Conn 2J couple of hours from here. They showed me the 2J. It was sort of beat up. I'm crazy busy right now, but I chatted with them for about an hour or more while straightening their 2J out for them. The price was "Thank-you for trying to help out our family member."

SPEAKING OF WHICH the valves on the 2J are really pitted, but really aren't worn... Just really badly pitted.
As is known, Olds build these tubas for Conn. If anyone has a set of Olds O-99 pistons - in addition to an extra #3 piston (to use as the #4 piston) I'm sure he would like to buy them from you.