Posted by Klaus on November 13, 2001 at 20:22:54:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tenor tuba ? posted by Jay Bertolet on November 13, 2001 at 19:51:34:
The determining factors would be the bell diameter and the bore. A 12"+ diameter and either a .610" (uniform) or an increasing bore through the valves respectively.
The oval shape was quite common here in my youth before the invasion of Brit and later Jap piston instruments. I never wondered over them back then.
But later I really have wondered over them, as they must be much more work intensive during the production phase.
The one of the few sources I ever read on them called them a South German tradition based on a wish for free eyesight, but I really believe they are based on a Cerveny design. In a catalogue from not much earlier than 1993 Wenzel Meinl calls their straight rotary Bariton an export model.
Conclusion: bring your caliper next time you are approaching the Mira Emperor-in-spe.
Klaus