Expert: Kenton Scott - 10/31/2007

Question
QUESTION: My 4 year old is obsessed with brass instruments; he played a neighbor's sousaphone and was hooked.  Recently purchased a holton baritone tuba in an antique shop - really inexpensive, but needs work on the bell and valves.
It has three different numbers on is - a 187 I think just below the Holton name and above elkhorn wisc
Another number on the outer area is clearly marked 87 and the serial number is 301674.  Could you let me know more about this fine piece as I am about to have it serviced and would like to maintain its value and usability.  It is odd to have a brass in a string/percussion household-but it looks like I have the beginnings of a klezmer band ;)

Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

ANSWER: The horn dates to 1957.  I'm thinking that maybe the 187 is a model number.  I know there is a 185.  Maybe if you sent pictures, I could tell more about it.  (Kenton@PunxyPa.com)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The horn has to be a 185 and has no other name associated with it. Went to horn-a-copia and there is no Revelation name on the bell.  Very excited to hear about its vintage status.  I will attempt to get a photo to you - but it appears to look similar to the 1962(?) one in the inventory.  Would not know how to distiguish which class it is (e.g. Bb) or not.

Answer
I'm assuming it is a Bb Baritone/Euphonium.  But that was one reason I was interested in seeing a picture.  I figured you might have either an Eb tuba or an Eb Alto horn (or a baritone, or an euphonium, or a tenor horn)

They didn't always put Revelation on everything.