Posted by Steve Marcus on June 15, 1999 at 07:23:30:
In Reply to: World's largest tuba posted by Brian Frederiksen on June 15, 1999 at 06:24:28:
These are actually two distinct horns, both of which are pictured at:
http://www.harrogate.co.uk/harrogate-band/indexhum.htm
The one that Sam Pilafian played at Harvard is still there. There was an account on Tubaeuph a few months ago about Matthew Gaunt's experience of attempting to play clear, undistorted notes on this horn. Reportedly, the horn resonated and shook badly. The original large matching mouthpiece had been stolen, so he had to use a standard production mpc.
The one that Hoffnung played came from Paxson's. Today, even the Hoffnung estate would like to know the whereabouts of this horn.
BTW, there is a "twin" to the Harvard horn in the possession of Carl Fischer. They advised that they would keep this currently unplayable horn that had been on display at their New York retail showroom, although with the closing of that store, they didn't know where they would keep it. Hopefully, they will donate it to a museum that will finance the reconditioning of the horn to playable condition.