The seller was a local TF member that I've met once or twice before, and he can speak up if he wants to be known. Otherwise, I'll just say it was nice to see him, and good to chat, outdoor, in 3 degree weather, for a couple of minutes.
It's going to shine up pretty nicely, but I ran out of silver polish. Not easy to take super bright pictures, but the inside of the bell is glaring (hurts my eyes in direct sunlight) and shiny AF. No major damage that I've seen so far. A few very minor pings on the bell but the bell is really clean otherwise. All the solder joints are good, a few little dents here and there. All slides move, and the valves move well... but I can't get the top valve caps open just yet. They might need some encouragement. Valves are a little "clicky" but they're old so that's expected.
I was told that it had previously been owned by a middle school band director, who owned it for 50 years, and didn't use it very much. Built in 1929. I hope I look this good when I'm 93 years old.
Don't mind the dried PlayDoh on the carpet. I did my best to keep my feet out of the pictures so isn't that good enough?!
The 17" bell makes a bigger and fuller sound than I had expected. False tones work well enough to get me by, but I miss the 4th valve. Obviously though, not a tuba designed to be taken into "big stuff" and for laying down super-low parts. I get that, not the horn's fault.
