Posted by Mike Johnson on July 16, 2002 at 12:27:44:
In Reply to: York CC pictures... posted by Rick Denney on July 15, 2002 at 17:35:59:
If I could figure out I would have posted it myself.
The tuba was rebuilt in 1969 but kept original not even filed, there are still small hammer marks. So the 3rd valve is original! As is the 4th, except the slide. The 4th was biult sharp to give an intune C#/F# on1&4! Low F on 1,2&4. At some time a slide was made to bring it down to a Fourth. It does have the "York" sound and is VERY addictive to play. I also have the original recording bell and 3 piece case set.
I bought the York from Mr. Bob Tucci in Munich, after SEVEN years of gentle coaxing. It was his last York. He gave me the History as follows:
I purchased the instrument from Harold Mc Donald in1982 or 1983. Harold
who was a very fine and amazingly enthusiastic musician had played with the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1952 until approx. 1982. His teeth gave
out, and he became the orchestra's Production Manager until passing away the
eve before a tour that would have taken the orchestra to Edinburgh and on to
Europe.
The instrument spent most of it's life in Chicago of course. It was ordered
in 1937 by Arnold for one of his students.. He did mention the name of that
person to me at one time but I did not make a record of same. It seems that
Jimmy Palicek, a bassist with the CSO and occasional second tuba player with
the orchestra owned it for many years as did Alice Schilke, the wife of
Renold Schilke.
A good old friend of Harold's, Laury (Laurence) Ledato, department manager of
the once great Lyon's Band Instrument Company on Lake Street in Chicago, had
the instrument carefully overhauled and plated in their excellent shop. That
goes back to the early sixties when he obtained the instrument. Lyons was a
big Mid-West distributor, mail-order and retail operation.
That is essentially all I know about the instrument! I feel that it
continues on in good hands!
Mike
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