Old Style King 1250 Valve Caps

[arocknamedjc]

By any chance, would anyone know where I might be able to find a few 1930's (and earlier) style King 1250 top valve caps? I know King changed the design in the late 30's/early 40's to the style that is still used today, but before that, the top caps looked similar to the bottom caps. I've tried searching the web for a set and have had no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[York-aholic]

I may have a few of the bottom caps. I haven't mic'd them but I suspect that the tops were the same as the bottoms, just with a small amount shaved off the top (pointy end) and the hole enlarged a bit.

Let me know if you'd like me to investigate further...

[arocknamedjc]

It might be easier if I provide some examples:
https://ibb.co/m5LhBwY8 - Bottom Caps
https://ibb.co/0pqhbKpq - Top cap example

Thank you!

[bloke]

- The Olds/Bach top caps sport the same look, but you will need to cut your King valve stems down exactly 1/8 inch, if you install them. Personally, I view this requirement as a plus. (Threads match.)

- Typical "donut-felt" King top caps have enough material on them to cut them to the shape of the very old top caps that you seek.
(The person operating the lathe can use a trashed King valve CASING (with all the knuckles cut off and turned off smooth via the lathe itself) as a fixture for holding a common style top cap to turn it down to a vintage style.)

[arocknamedjc]

I may have a few of the bottom caps. I haven't mic'd them but I suspect that the tops were the same as the bottoms, just with a small amount shaved off the top (pointy end) and the hole enlarged a bit.

Let me know if you'd like me to investigate further...

If you have the time to investigate, that would be great! Thank you!

[arpthark]

I'll check, too.

[York-aholic]

I may have a few of the bottom caps. I haven't mic'd them but I suspect that the tops were the same as the bottoms, just with a small amount shaved off the top (pointy end) and the hole enlarged a bit.

Let me know if you'd like me to investigate further...

If you have the time to investigate, that would be great! Thank you!

I don't have any top caps I'm not using, but can compare bottom caps (I have a few of those extra) with tops caps and see what's different.

Are you looking for silver or lacquer?

@arpthark Hey, I called it first

[bloke]

I might have some, but I like to see what you're trying to match before I send them off, and also let me know if you have enough.

I'm still getting repair customers who bring instruments with caps styled like that.

[York-aholic]

Comparing a top and bottom cap…

The large diameter part (that threads on) is ever so slightly taller (like 1/32”, I can actually measure if it’s important).

The little nipple on the bottom cap is both taller and smaller in diameter, coming up to an edge, where as the top cap’s nipple is shorter (maybe 1/16”), larger in diameter and milled so there is a flat plateau on top.

Bottom cap on top (upside down). Top cap on the bottom.

IMG_3619.jpeg (84.79 KiB) Viewed 1719 times

Bottom cap on top (upside down). Top cap on the bottom.

IMG_3619.jpeg (84.79 KiB) Viewed 1719 times

As @bloke alluded to, options include Olds O-99 caps, Reynolds or Olds (.687 bore) sousaphone caps or either of the two earlier generation King caps (from 124x/234x tubas, 2350 sousaphones or the newer style 234x tubas). None of those will visually match. Heck you could use the bottom caps from the above King tubas with some creative felting.

Sorry, I don’t have any spare top caps that would match what you have. @bloke, if you do, you held out on me. You said you only had the bottom caps and sent me what you had of those. In fact, the lacquered one was from you. Thank you!