Posted by Joe S. on February 21, 2001 at 00:29:39:
These two pieces will solve your problems once and for all, if you have a
Conn 20K short-action sousaphone
-or-
Conn 20J / 21J / 24J / or 25J (and some other "BIG" NON-short-action) short-action 6/4 tuba.
These parts are the bell section receiver (body-mounted) and the "male" bell tenon (bell-mounted). This set fits together absolutely perfectly, but is not loose! The "male" part (brown in the picture) is brand new, and the receiver part (shiny in the picture) is "like-new".
Dealer cost on these two parts is over $150. If anyone is tired of struggling to get their short-action instrument's (tuba OR sousaphone) bell on and off, THESE will SOLVE your problem (provided your repair guy doesn't drop them on the floor when he is installing them :^) .
I'll let 'em go for $100 + shipping for the pair of parts. Email me if you want 'em. Dealers welcome (even Yankees!).