Posted by Ray Noguera on October 31, 2003 at 09:21:54:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Walter Sear Mahillon Horn posted by Roger Lewis on October 28, 2003 at 07:25:21:
The mahillion sear model 390 was available in the 60's and 70's. It was a medium size top action BBb tuba built in both solid bell up and detachable recording bell models. Howard Johnson plays and has played the BBb 390 most of his tuba career and continues to swear by it. It had a wonderfull sound and some intonation quirks ( much like the 15,000 dollar tubas made today). Mahillion went out of buisness in the early 80"s driven to the ground by cheaper japanese imports. the tools are gone. Mahillion also developed the french besson trumpet. -Shilke used his formulas in his trumpet making- He also used the mahillion piccolo trumpet as the model for his very popular horn. Deprins tubas did come with stainless steel valves. It was only the first 2 years that they came with plated valves. Deprins now manufactures aluminum replacement windows I own some of the tooling the rest is in a museum