B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
-
Timtamtuba
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2026 4:58 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Just a random question were any of these ever made in silver plate? I know silver plate wasn't exactly the favored finish in Germany let alone the GDR but ive realized I've never even seen one in silver so my assumption is none were ever made.
- bloke
- Mid South Music
- Posts: 26014
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
- Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
- Has thanked: 5527 times
- Been thanked: 6447 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
I serviced a "Perantucci" that was silver plated (pre-PT10).
Those were imported to a Michigan shop which charged fancy prices.
Most of the Symphonie models were imported by those retailers looking for the absolute cheapest version they could sell:
- lacquer
- 5 rotors
- (back then) only cost importers a few hundred bucks
....
that silver PT-10
That player failed his doctoral recital, didn't receive his DMA in time for his tenure deadline, and lost his freakin' job.
WHEN I SERVICED THE TUBA AFTER THE RECITAL...
the ENTIRE valve section was COATED (all the way around ALL the tubing in the ENTIRE valve section) with a c. 1/8th inch thick coating of white "weird $h!t"...ABSOLUTELY disgusting, but no damn wonder he failed his recital.
Those were imported to a Michigan shop which charged fancy prices.
Most of the Symphonie models were imported by those retailers looking for the absolute cheapest version they could sell:
- lacquer
- 5 rotors
- (back then) only cost importers a few hundred bucks
....
that silver PT-10
That player failed his doctoral recital, didn't receive his DMA in time for his tenure deadline, and lost his freakin' job.
WHEN I SERVICED THE TUBA AFTER THE RECITAL...
the ENTIRE valve section was COATED (all the way around ALL the tubing in the ENTIRE valve section) with a c. 1/8th inch thick coating of white "weird $h!t"...ABSOLUTELY disgusting, but no damn wonder he failed his recital.
- These users thanked the author bloke for the post (total 3):
- jtm (Thu Jun 25, 2026 4:37 pm) • prodigal (Sat Jun 27, 2026 4:47 am) • Timtamtuba (Thu Jul 02, 2026 3:41 pm)
- arpthark
- Posts: 6715
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
- Location: near the Submarine Capital of the World
- Has thanked: 2176 times
- Been thanked: 2381 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
I’ve seen a couple and always kind of suspected they were States-side Anderson Plating jobs by the importers: imported and then plated in Indiana and then sold in Michigan and Giardinelli’s and wherever else. I’ve seen a Piggy like that, too.
- These users thanked the author arpthark for the post (total 2):
- Timtamtuba (Thu Jul 02, 2026 3:42 pm) • shovelingtom (Sat Jul 04, 2026 8:42 am)

- bort2.0
- Posts: 6025
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
- Location: Minneapolis
- Has thanked: 471 times
- Been thanked: 1286 times
- bloke
- Mid South Music
- Posts: 26014
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
- Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
- Has thanked: 5527 times
- Been thanked: 6447 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Mine could certainly use a new finish after 44 years.
I was going to shoot it with clear.
If y'all want to see a silver one (though a nuisance to maintain), I'd accept donations for Anderson charges and to/from gasoline cost.
It'll be pretty... for a while.
I wouldn't use GoFundMe... I'm probably not very good at writing a "heartfelt" sob story about needing silver on my tuba.
I don't believe I want the gold-plated slides.
Everyone will assume it's a Chinese knockoff.
I was going to shoot it with clear.
If y'all want to see a silver one (though a nuisance to maintain), I'd accept donations for Anderson charges and to/from gasoline cost.
It'll be pretty... for a while.
I wouldn't use GoFundMe... I'm probably not very good at writing a "heartfelt" sob story about needing silver on my tuba.
I don't believe I want the gold-plated slides.
Everyone will assume it's a Chinese knockoff.
- russiantuba
- Posts: 968
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:04 am
- Location: Circleville, Ohio
- Has thanked: 79 times
- Been thanked: 388 times
- Contact:
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
I owned a factory silver B&S Perantucci Model F from the 1980s. I believe I have seen a symphonie that was silver, in a somewhat recent post.
Dr. James M. Green
Lecturer in Music--Ohio Northern University
Adjunct Professor of Music--Ohio Christian University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Miraphone Performing Artist
www.russiantuba.com
Lecturer in Music--Ohio Northern University
Adjunct Professor of Music--Ohio Christian University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Miraphone Performing Artist
www.russiantuba.com
-
prodigal
- Posts: 1066
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 2:22 pm
- Has thanked: 532 times
- Been thanked: 287 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
There was a silver PT-10 at Dillon's about a year ago.russiantuba wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2026 8:03 pm I owned a factory silver B&S Perantucci Model F from the 1980s. I believe I have seen a symphonie that was silver, in a somewhat recent post.
1960 186CC
B&S 5099/PT-15
Cerveny 653
B&S PT-1
A bunch of string instruments
B&S 5099/PT-15
Cerveny 653
B&S PT-1
A bunch of string instruments
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Here are my BBb and F Symphonie tubas in silver (and a B&S CC in raw brass in the middle). It is quite some years since they looked this polished.....
- These users thanked the author Søren for the post (total 2):
- TheBerlinerTuba (Fri Jun 26, 2026 5:46 am) • prodigal (Sat Jun 27, 2026 4:46 am)
- bloke
- Mid South Music
- Posts: 26014
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
- Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
- Has thanked: 5527 times
- Been thanked: 6447 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Discussions of this model always circle back around to Steve's "dent".
I LIKE Steve, and I'm not looking to argue with Steve about this or anything else.
He has finally posted a picture of his "dent".

My instrument suffered a nearly identical dent in the distant past.
(I'm thinking I clumsily dropped a mouthpiece when working on it in the shop with the linkage removed.) It accomplished nothing positive - certainly not that I was able to perceive. I'll removed it with a magnet and went on about my day.
I LIKE Steve, and I'm not looking to argue with Steve about this or anything else.
He has finally posted a picture of his "dent".

My instrument suffered a nearly identical dent in the distant past.
(I'm thinking I clumsily dropped a mouthpiece when working on it in the shop with the linkage removed.) It accomplished nothing positive - certainly not that I was able to perceive. I'll removed it with a magnet and went on about my day.
-
Timtamtuba
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2026 4:58 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Lol sorry I didnt see this earlier that's hilarious and gross at the same time. I worry about his own personal hygiene if that's how he treated what i assume is a relatively expensive tubabloke wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2026 4:12 pm I serviced a "Perantucci" that was silver plated (pre-PT10).
Those were imported to a Michigan shop which charged fancy prices.
Most of the Symphonie models were imported by those retailers looking for the absolute cheapest version they could sell:
- lacquer
- 5 rotors
- (back then) only cost importers a few hundred bucks
....
that silver PT-10
That player failed his doctoral recital, didn't receive his DMA in time for his tenure deadline, and lost his freakin' job.
WHEN I SERVICED THE TUBA AFTER THE RECITAL...
the ENTIRE valve section was COATED (all the way around ALL the tubing in the ENTIRE valve section) with a c. 1/8th inch thick coating of white "weird $h!t"...ABSOLUTELY disgusting, but no damn wonder he failed his recital.![]()
-
prodigal
- Posts: 1066
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 2:22 pm
- Has thanked: 532 times
- Been thanked: 287 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Maybe he was using beer as a secondary "valve" oil.
Not throwing stones here...
Not throwing stones here...
1960 186CC
B&S 5099/PT-15
Cerveny 653
B&S PT-1
A bunch of string instruments
B&S 5099/PT-15
Cerveny 653
B&S PT-1
A bunch of string instruments
-
Timtamtuba
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2026 4:58 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: B&S Symphonie F tubas in Silver plate
Personally I can't think of any combination of gold and silverbloke wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2026 7:48 pm Mine could certainly use a new finish after 44 years.
I was going to shoot it with clear.
If y'all want to see a silver one (though a nuisance to maintain), I'd accept donations for Anderson charges and to/from gasoline cost.
It'll be pretty... for a while.
I wouldn't use GoFundMe... I'm probably not very good at writing a "heartfelt" sob story about needing silver on my tuba.
I don't believe I want the gold-plated slides.
Everyone will assume it's a Chinese knockoff.
That wouldn't look tacky and seemingly overcompensating for something.
