TubaForum.net

Also known as the B&S 3103 or PT-1.

This is from a pretty nice local high school who owns four or five of these VMI 103s, along with a few 3/4 sized Meinl-Weston upright four valve tubas and some little 3/4 Jupiters.

This particular 103 features a busted carriage arm and came with the general recommendation to "give it a once over."

Unfortunately, it looks like an inner branch lost a leverage fight with a flagpole or a drumstick. Lots of goofy dents.

I'll add pics if I think of it!

Imagine something like this but more beat up (that is, this is not the actual tuba in question):

Ahhh, those young scholars...............

Those are nice BBb tubas. My NStar friend has one, let me play it.

This one was actually in pretty decent shape, but someone replaced all the rotor center screws with ones that were too tall and the linkage was banging into the screws every time you activated a lever.

I’ll keep an eye out for screws that will fit, but in the meantime I just got some small washers that raised the balls of the ball and socket connectors a bit higher so there’s clearance to avoid the screws.

It plays very well!

Like.. used round head instead of pan head screws?

I had one years ago. It was a terrific horn.

There may not be any near you but, Runnings (a farm supply store) has an amazing hardware section stocked with every screw, nut, bolt washer; in imperial and metric sizes; stainless, zinc coated, other. And you can buy just one screw, or a box. I used to go to ace/true value for hardware like this. Runnings blows them away with what they carry in stock. Of course every store is different.

Looks like there is one in Putnam Connecticut. Dont know if that's near you.

Grumpikins wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 5:53 pm There may not be any near you but, Runnings (a farm supply store) has an amazing hardware section stocked with every screw, nut, bolt washer; in imperial and metric sizes; stainless, zinc coated, other. And you can buy just one screw, or a box. I used to go to ace/true value for hardware like this. Runnings blows them away with what they carry in stock. Of course every store is different.

Looks like there is one in Putnam Connecticut. Dont know if that's near you.

I was actually in Putnam the other day (meeting @humBell). It’s about 45 minutes north of me. Thank you for the tip!

arpthark wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:39 pm

Grumpikins wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 5:53 pm There may not be any near you but, Runnings (a farm supply store) has an amazing hardware section stocked with every screw, nut, bolt washer; in imperial and metric sizes; stainless, zinc coated, other. And you can buy just one screw, or a box. I used to go to ace/true value for hardware like this. Runnings blows them away with what they carry in stock. Of course every store is different.

Looks like there is one in Putnam Connecticut. Dont know if that's near you.

I was actually in Putnam the other day (meeting @humBell). It’s about 45 minutes north of me. Thank you for the tip!

@arpthark, Did ya get it?

Sorry i wasn't paying any attention.

(and if i had a vmi 103, i'd totally confuse which 103 i was supposed to bring... ybb-103 was already in the car anyway. Important roadside emergency equipment as it is)