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WTB: Used conn 14k valves? mabey?

Posted: Sat May 18, 2024 7:26 pm
by EmptyCase
I had an old pan american sousaphone (already without the original valves) that I sold to a friend. long story short, the valves that are in it leak like crazy. He knew about it before he bough it but I'm trying to help him out. Would anyone have a set, or even just one valve from an old 14k they would sell me. Anything is probably better than the valves currently in it.

When i said the valves are bad; you can move them side to side(I'm not talking about rotating them indicating a bad valve guide). About 50% of the plating on the valves them selves are gone.

Anything helps. Thanks!

Re: WTB: Used conn 14k valves? mabey?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:25 am
by iiipopes
Caveat: measure the bore at the 2nd valve slide. I also play a @98-year-old Pan Am souzy with a @1936 Cavalier bell, which has the same issue with leaky valves. The bore is .687, not the "standard" .734. So you have to measure the bore to see if it will fit. If it is the smaller bore, then the 14K valve block looks like it will fit, but it won't match the tubing. Now, if you get a block complete with the leadpipe and receiver, the neck and bits will fit, but you will have a different tubing going out of the back of the block.

In the meantime, I suggest something like Hetman's Classic (if it is still available), or take an empty standard 2-ounce valve oil bottle, fill it half-full of preferred valve oil, then add a few drops of pharmaceutical grade mineral oil to raise the viscosity so it will at least play.

Re: WTB: Used conn 14k valves? mabey?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 10:25 am
by bloke
Most people who have these typically hoard them.

Allied Supply (Getzen-owned, and next door to Getzen...and I wouldn't be surprised at all if these are locally subcontracted, and not even made by Getzen) ofters aftermarket pistons to fit these instruments.

My guess (...?? - and this represents a modest mark-up) is that you could coax a repair shop to sell you the three for $600 (plus a little bit more for stems/guides/springs/buttons, felts/top caps - assuming any or all of that is needed).

These would be new, and not funky/worn/rattling-in-casings, and the total cost (assuming your casings are good) would be way cheaper than buying three cruddy ones for (??) $250 or so, and they paying to have the valves rebuilt so as the sousaphone plays nicely.

Conn sousaphone pistons.png
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