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The tuba distribution system strikes again!

Yesterday morning I played a local charity concert to help raise money for our community pool. Everything went well, and on the way home we decided to stop at Goodwill to look for dorm supplies. While we were there, an older gentleman came up to us and asked if we knew his father, who had played tuba in our community band years ago.

He then asked if I'd be interested in taking an old sousaphone off his hands. He mentioned that it had been played in a John Philip Sousa band. I have no idea if that's true, but it would be really interesting if there were any records or a way to verify that history.

This morning I went to pick it up, and he also gave me an alto horn!

The sousaphone is a Keefer E♭ Sousa with a 16-inch bell. The serial number (#12058) dates it to 1919. He also gave me a J.W. York & Sons E♭ alto horn with serial number (#79479). I wasn't able to find nearly as much information about the York. Though, it takes a modern trumpet shank mouthpiece.

The York is dirty but completely playable. The sousaphone, on the other hand, has stuck valves and slides and is missing the bell screws.

I'll work on posting some pictures soon. If anyone knows where I can find replacement bell screws and bits that would fit this Keefer, I'd really appreciate the help!

That's awesome, congrats! That Keefer is a rare bird, worth getting it back in service. Would love see a few photos of it.

Were they local to the Reading area? I wonder what band they played in?

bbuxx2026 wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 2:35 pm He also gave me a J.W. York & Sons E♭ alto horn with serial number (#79479). I wasn't able to find nearly as much information about the York.

The York was made about 1925 and is either a model 436 or 437, depending on whether it has the 1910 High/Low Pitch loop or not.

anadmai wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 6:39 am Were they local to the Reading area? I wonder what band they played in?

They mentioned getting the horn in Morgantown, not sure when though.

436.

I have a King alto horn from around the same period. I don't know what kind of mouthpiece it originally came with, but I found a Blessing 5 (copy of a Wick 5 tenor horn mouthpiece) works really well. The Wick tenor horn pieces go from 1 being the widest and shallowest to 5 being the narrowest and deepest. For me at least the 5, was better than a wider 3 common with British brass band players. A Hammond mellophone mouthpiece wasn't bad either. Mine came with a Bach 7C trumpet mouthpiece stuck in it.... which didn't work at all.

bbuxx2026 wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:18 pm

Darn, missing the 1st valve?

arpthark wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:20 pm

bbuxx2026 wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:18 pm

Darn, missing the 1st valve?

I have it, should have included it. The Stem is bend possibly the reason for it not going fully down. I moves fine up until it threads in than its stuck. Im going to try to clean in and hope that works.

bbuxx2026 wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:24 pm

arpthark wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:20 pm

bbuxx2026 wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 1:18 pm

Darn, missing the 1st valve?

I have it, should have included it. The Stem is bend possibly the reason for it not going fully down. I moves fine up until it threads in than its stuck. Im going to try to clean in and hope that works.

Whew! I was gonna say, everything else is pretty fixable but if you were missing the first valve then that would have been no good.

Sending you a PM.

Nice Keefer, they made great horns. I just recently got a 4 valve BBb Keefer Wagnerphone (sousaphone) that I need to oil up and get playing.

I was temporarily heartbroken to see the missing 1st valve. Looks great, and I want to see that engraving when it's all cleaned up! My vote is to get that thing repaired, polished and ready to go and use it for Tubachristmas or something. Congrats on getting this tuba, that's really cool