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I've had this tuba for several years now. It sits in a corner, and I forget that it even exists. But, then I stumble upon it and I think "oh yeah, I forgot about this..." So... realistically, what, if anything, can I do with it?

I bought it at an estate sale. It's the tiny (30 inch tall, 14 inch bell diameter) Conn 3-valve Eb with the (very nice!) Worcester Mass engraving on it.

Yes, it's possible to play it. And even in the current state, it's pretty fun to play since it's so dang small. Nice sound, too. However, there are so many loose or missing braces that I'm worried that trying to use it for anything (e.g., TubaChristmas), it might just fall apart in my lap. And let's be realistic... it's a tiny 3-valve Eb and it has extremely limited usefulness. Even if it were in great condition, I doubt it get used more than 1 or 2 times per year. Besides the braces, the bell rim is coming separated from the rest of the bell. There's not a ton of straight-up damage or dents, it's just a lot of wear and tear (and plenty of wear to the silver too) from the last 130+ years. Still tuba-shaped, non-destroyed, and apart from some poorly done solder repairs from who-knows-when, not a lot of evidence of repair.

I don't have the skillset to do any real work myself, nor do I really have the time to learn it right now. I'm also not interested to put a lot of money into something so obscure and unlikely to be used. I'm not a collector, and this ain't a museum. If it's not getting used, I have a very difficult time convincing myself to keep it. But... it's 131 years old, that engraving is awfully cool, and I do like the idea of preserving history, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Anyway, it's been a good while since I've thought about it. What should I do with it?

I'm stuck between options 1 and 2.

I’m torn between 1 And 3. I would say if you have the space put it back in the corner and stare at it. Or maybe take it down to Red Wing and let the students have a shot at it. I have no idea if they actually do that sort of thing, but…

Let it have a good overhaul, maybe it will be a bit over 500 bucks. But then you're rewarded with an ultra-cool little horn in a solid playing condition which you can use more often without being afraid of falling apart. No full shiny-new restauration, keep the patina but get it technically sound and you're going to enjoy it for sure

.

Selling seems to be the worst option in this condition as the trade value will be a fraction of the craftsmanship value for such an instrument. I'd either spend the $250 or "all in" I'd even think of adding a valve (or two) if you get hold of the right parts and find the right craftsmen to do the work. Time will save money as there surely is no haste.

I am glad I had my tiny Eb done (similar size) as I now have a full range instrument which almost fits an euphonium gig bag and weighs nothing. As long as I can breath, I will be able to play tuba with this instrument. For now, it's a perfect tuba for small ensembles or 1st voice in a wind band, maybe even as "travel tuba". I approximately spent an equivalent of $1000. Even added to the 3 digit €-value I bought it for, that's still a sensible amount for a usable historic quality instrument in 100% working condition.

$400 a week at Costco? Not only is that a tremendous amount of stuff, it's inhuman to think that any consumer would voluntarily go to Costco every week. Now, if you had said Home Depot... well, that's a different story.

I typically think of these things as annualized costs, which may or may not be right... But for example, if I pay $600 for it now and keep it for 30 years, then it averages out to $20 per year. Which obviously is good... but the issue is that I constantly have higher priority needs for that $600. It's perpetually difficult to get to the lower priority items.

I started to get to the lower priority items step by step since maybe 5 years. Tuba-wise I should be through now except for normal wear...I was lucky as I either already had or found decent elder used instruments and skilled repairmen for the needed works.

Brett,
Is this the instrument Bort Jr plays in school, or do you have multiple little Eb tubas down there?
Considering it's history and gorgeous engraving, I'd be of a mind to do at least SOME restoration to solidify this beauty for occasional use. Lee S is just a pleasant day's drive from your place there and back (I've done it a couple of times starting 3 hours north of you). We all know his terrific work, and he's a fine visit as well. It's probably time you two actually meet in person anyway. Go to the little cafe in De Smet to talk it over, and tell 'em Tim sent you.
Keep us posted on this fun project!
Tim

I had the same tuba. I was nice as a Solo Horn

I kind of wish I had a light weight 3 valve version Still. Mine had 5 valves. Hit me up if you are interested in selling it.

MN_TimTuba wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 11:27 am Brett,
Is this the instrument Bort Jr plays in school, or do you have multiple little Eb tubas down there?
Considering it's history and gorgeous engraving, I'd be of a mind to do at least SOME restoration to solidify this beauty for occasional use. Lee S is just a pleasant day's drive from your place there and back (I've done it a couple of times starting 3 hours north of you). We all know his terrific work, and he's a fine visit as well. It's probably time you two actually meet in person anyway. Go to the little cafe in De Smet to talk it over, and tell 'em Tim sent you.
Keep us posted on this fun project!
Tim

I'm long overdue for a visit with both YOU and Lee. I agree, it's best to get this back in some kind of more-respectable condition. I guess I *am* getting older, because when I hear 1895, I think "that's like 100 years plus a little more." No, that's 100 years, plus another 31 years.

My son is using the Martin Medium Eb. So yes, I do have multiple little Eb tubas. The Martin has a 17" bell and I believe is 32" tall. It's not very big, but it's substantially larger than the Conn. I would LOVE to put a 4- or 5-valve set on the Martin and try to make it into something it's not... but it's also a risk to start chopping into a perfectly fine horn that my son and I both already enjoy as-is. (The Martin is 104 years old)

What’s the condition of the valves? That would be the thing that would sway me to fix up the body a little bit.

You already know this, but realistically it’s not worth much. Anything you put into it would probably never come back to you.

What makes me frown is that bell rim. I don’t know the best way to repair that, nor how much it would cost. I tend to avoid bell damage like that and patches when looking at tubas.

If the valves are toast, I wouldn’t put anything into it. If they’re so-so, and it would keep you playing at Tuba Xmas and with your son, put $250 into the solder and minor dent work it might need. Maybe even a good cleaning.

I had a circa-1900 Boston BBb tuba for a few years. It was fun. I played it at the house here and there. Played ok, but not great. Also needed a lot of work to make it play "like new." I never got around to doing it. I kept it because I enjoyed owning a piece of history.

When we moved, I sold it to a person who already had one or two similar instruments, had probably a stronger sense of the history than I did, and who was thrilled to get this one. I haven't had a second thought about having sold it since that day.

Sousaswag wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:38 pm What’s the condition of the valves? That would be the thing that would sway me to fix up the body a little bit.

You already know this, but realistically it’s not worth much. Anything you put into it would probably never come back to you.

What makes me frown is that bell rim. I don’t know the best way to repair that, nor how much it would cost. I tend to avoid bell damage like that and patches when looking at tubas.

If the valves are toast, I wouldn’t put anything into it. If they’re so-so, and it would keep you playing at Tuba Xmas and with your son, put $250 into the solder and minor dent work it might need. Maybe even a good cleaning.

I think the valves are good enough. I didn't pull them out yesterday, and I don't remember. I would not be excited to put any real money into the valves.

Overall, I have a VERY small amount of money in the horn, and have no delusions about what it is and what it might be. It's probably worth doing something, but just trying to decide how much I should do... And if I should even be the one to do it.

.

LOL

a handful of posts and already off topic

You guys don't need me to troll.

Caveat: this is coming from someone who likes antiques and old stuff for the sake of it and not factoring any kind of practicality:

Unless it’s causing a strain on household space, relationships, or a dire financial need, I’d hang on to it. They aren’t making 1890s Conns anymore, ya know. Maybe one day you or your kids will fix it up a bit. Someone once told me you always need a weird little Eb tuba in your closet as a project. Get it structurally sound and somewhere along the lines or A=440 and you can bring it to Tuba Christmas or just have it be a Bortling’s home practice tuba. Office tuba. Garage tuba. You don’t need a reason. Life is short, have a 130 year old tuba.

tofu wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 3:56 pm ...stuff...

Going to Costco is a dreadful experience, I've been to many and it's always the same. You nearly get ran over in the parking lot, and Lord help you if you take "someone else's spot." And once you get inside, it's half shopping cart zombies and half regular folks who can't wait to be done and get out. Except, you have to go back to the parking lot.

Home Depot is what it is. My closest CoCo and HD are right next to each other, and for as awful as CoCo is, it's a million times better at HD.

Plus, if I need a new shutoff valve, it's not like I have to buy a 20-pack.

I've had two of these. The first was stencilled Lyon and Healy, it was a little rough overall but played very well. No wide Eb/D octave, 5th partial was fine, 6th Bb and A were a little sharp. This was the first tuba I owned and I played it everywhere- brass band, quintet, even as the only tuba in an ~80 piece community band. That was a little rough. I eventually sold it when I was trying to win a cruise band trombone gig (did not happen). I could just shovel air through it. Small shank mp, I taped my Bach 18 in after it fell out during a CB concert.
I played it in a brass band concert as the only Eb, other guy had an emergency, next to two powerhouse Bb players with the church organ on a few tunes and felt I held my own. The Planets, some stuff with a HS choir, a few of the Enigma Variations.

The second one I still have, I bought it from a retired Navy band guy. Beautiful horn, valves are good, it just feels a little fragile. 3rd and 5th partials need alternates. I don't play it, or really anything, anymore but I respect it's history too much to sell it. When I do I usually use a contrabass trombone mp, none of my tuba mps feel right and none of them fit anyway. Kelly makes a small shank tuba mp that I've been 'using' on cimbasso, might work here. iirc it's 31mm, so right at that in-between point between other in-betweens, or something.

How do you guys get images small enough to post here? I took a screenshot of the picture of the tubas and that's smaller but not small enough.

tofu wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2026 11:47 pm -snip- if you can get it to Joe (perhaps on one of his visits to the land of cheddar) for less than $500 he can make it pretty nice-

I saw the picture of the cracked rim, so I'm the one who chose the first selection.