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Many thanks to @humBell for the email this morning about a local Craigslist ad for a yard sale, which included one word of interest in a list of things: sousaphone.

The sale doesn't actually start until tomorrow, but I emailed the person about it... he sent a few pictures to me, and was thrilled that it would go to someone who wanted it and could use it. He told me the price (which I couldn't believe), and it was in my trunk about an hour later. He said that they had it for a long time, and are moving and it's just taking up space. His wife taught painting lessons, and she used it as a still-life object to paint. Also, as a Christmas decoration.

Silver plated with gold-wash bell. Needs a little polishing up, and did not come with neck and bits, so I can't play it yet. I've played some old Conns before, and know what this is going to sound like... so I'm eager to get this up and running. Overall in great shape (not many dents), the valves look amazing, and the bell itself is in really, really nice shape. Serial number puts it at 1925, and from what I can tell I think it's a 38K? No model number on the bell collar, although the number "45" is stamped on to the collar on the bell itself -- not sure what that means... the serial number has "45" in the number, but those are not the last two digits.

Here's a quick couple of photos, frontal shot and a lousy shot of the old-school Conn engraving.

Polish it up and that thing will be beautiful! Congrats and props to @humBell for passing along the deal!

You can play low A-flats now!

Not enough of a tuba taxonomist to say from a picture, but I'd believe it's a 38K. As far as I know, there isn't a better sousaphone.

Hey, i did something right?

Great find!

Bell polishing "during"... aka, "ran out of polish". It sure feels like 100 years of tarnish.

Inside the bell is gold wash
Rear of the bell is satin silver,
Engraving area is bright silver

Wow! Also, so hard to photograph!

Which polish are you using? Looks great.

The cleaning and a few small mods and you’ve got a fantastic instrument. Congrats!

Thanks!

Wrights silver cream... I also did a quick TarnX on it, basically put a bit of TarnX on a cloth, actively wipe with that for like 10-15 seconds, and then hit it with the Wrights. Takes a few rounds of Wrights, but minimizes the amount of TarnX time. Works well so far... Bells are easy though, we'll see what happens with the little stuff and small spots between things. I'll need a better approach for that.

What's the best way to clean up the gold wash finish without destroying it?

Good teamwork you two!

@bort2.0 I believe you are the current tarnished sliver polishing expert now!

York-aholic wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:36 pm @bort2.0 I believe you are the current tarnished sliver polishing expert now!

Now there's a life goal to check off the list!

Forgot to mention, it's missing a bell screw... but not sure if the style changed over the years. Where can I get a new bell screw?

The finger buttons are also either not original (but match) or are original and have lost all their silver plating.

If the silver plating looks really good after I polish it, I'll probably buy a new set of silver neck and bits. But if it's spotty and has a lot of wear, then I'll just buy the cheapest available.

Either way, I really wan tot hear what this tuba wants to say!

Congrats! And I’m slightly envious. Talk to Laurel about getting a bell screw. She might have a box of assorted parts lying around. If she doesn’t you could probably get one from that shop on the north side of town.

ronr wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:19 pm Congrats! And I’m slightly envious. Talk to Laurel about getting a bell screw. She might have a box of assorted parts lying around. If she doesn’t you could probably get one from that shop on the north side of town.

Thanks, good idea!

One thing to not envy, Ron, is the weight. Even for a sousaphone, this one seems particularly heavy. Thick metal, with guards and bracing all over. It's a beast.

Is it a different model from the 38k that has the short travel pistons with offset buttons?

jtm wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:08 pm Is it a different model from the 38k that has the short travel pistons with offset buttons?

The 20K has the short action valves with offset stems and buttons, whereas the predecessor, the 38K has regular action valves and straight on stems. Also not quite sure when Conn started applying model numbers to their instruments.

This sousaphone looks a little...slender to me to be a 38K, but it could be the angle of the photo. How big is the bell collar? Is it about like a 20K or more, say, 14K or King sized?

And what a find! I wish I could find a sousaphone at a yard sale like that! But I would also need the space...

I'm not sure if it applies to the 38K, but I seem to recall that Conn has reused/recycled model numbers a few times. So perhaps this 38K model number was retired at some point... and resumed at some point for a different horn?

My tuba has:
* Normal (non-short) action pistons
* 24" diameter bell
* listed as a .719" bore... but the second valve slide is stuck and I can't measure it yet

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:02 pm Forgot to mention, it's missing a bell screw... but not sure if the style changed over the years. Where can I get a new bell screw?

I bet it's the standard size, that any repair shop likely has on hand.

If not ... maybe you can get reproduction magneto clamping screws with the correct thread, and fabricate your thumbscrew from that - worked for me on an early '40s Holton 109 bell front.

Bell collar diameter. That will tell the tale, if someone has the 38K / 40K reference. (Assuming it doesn't pre-date the model, which I think would be surprising.) It doesn't look slender at all to me.

The "45" signifies it's a Signature Billy Dee Williams Colt 45 model. RARE find.

In 1925, at the dedication of Mt Rushmore, it's designer was asked to predict a future president that would be added to the colossal sculpture.

He proclaimed (After consuming several malt liquors) "45" and thus, it was inscribed on the bands sousaphone.

Beautiful. Hope it's modern pitch.