Posted by Philip Jensen on January 17, 2002 at 15:25:31:
A trumpet player friend of mine (yes they can have friends) just got an old tuba that I'm trying to help him to find out more about. Here is was it says on the bell.
PATENT CLEAR BORE
MADE EXPRESSLY
FOR THOMPSON & ODELL
BOSTON
BY GAUTROT & CO
PARIS
No serial number on the valve casing or anywhere else. He said it was a Bb and small for a tuba, but definitely bigger than a euph. I'm still not convinced it isn't an Eb. He said he'll try to bring it to our next rehearsal.
I'm my web searching about all I could find was that the company (T & O) went out of business in around 1905, and was a manufacturer of ophicleides, and a one Thompson Odell was a famous banjo manufacturer/player (no relation to T & O). Does anybody out there know of the reputation of the manufacturer? I recall a recent discussion on the poor quality of French made tubas. Does this extend to this time period and include this manufacturer? Besides being an antique is there anything else to recommend this horn. Thanks for your help.
Philip