Posted by Klaus on April 18, 2001 at 05:36:32:
In Reply to: Tenor Sousaphone? posted by Eve on April 18, 2001 at 01:40:10:
A closer look (in photoshop) at this not too usual instruments shows:
a: a valve section/main tuning slide set-up which is very similar in size, wrapping, and general proportions to that of standard 3 valve, front action baritones of US origin.
b: that the main tuning 2nd branch/receiver continues through a bow into the main circle at a point just behind the left thumb of the player.
c: there are no signs of two levels of tubing in the main circle. This tells that the tubing from the shoulder rest down to the "thumb" connection point is fake (of no acoustical use) similar to that found on Eb sousaphones like the Conn 26K. Only in this case the fake tubing is relatively longer. As is the stay from the above mentioned bow up to the fake tubing.
d. the bell diameter could be in the 15 inch range.
These observations combined lead me to conclude, that this instrument is a tenor Bb "sousienette". Which in acoustical proportions is not too dissimilar to the bellfront "Kaiserbaritonen" used by some very popular German type bands in Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy. Playing the bass line an octave above the normal string bass/tuba range.
On eBay I have seen one or two sousaphones of the same bell and bore dimensions, but which clearly were full length BBb instruments. Made in New York (Long Island?) aimed at the school-marching-band-market, but never really getting popular.
Klaus