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Hello, A year ago I purchased a 1976 Mirafone 186 5U tuba- SN 10109. It is rumored to have belonged to Sam Pilafian. The valves are vented, brass color with a raw brass inner bell. Previous owner purchased the horn at Dillon Music, or directly from Sam. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thank You,

Lawrence Good
Oregon

I’d imagine Charles Villarrubia would know more about this than most people here. I don’t recall Sam ever owning a 186, although he did own a few Bill Bell models over the years and recorded the Russian Empire album on a Rudy Meinl 3/4 CC tuba.

When he was at Tanglewood with Ellis Wean in the early ’70s, he wasn’t playing a Miraphone then either. I also saw him a few times in the late ’70s and early ’80s with a Holton 345 CC and an Alexander F.

I’d take the claim that he owned it with a grain of salt. A colleague of mine once said they owned Sam’s four-valve Bill Bell C MW, and Sam himself told me they were lying. So, go figure. Hopefully you can figure it out. But it doesn’t really matter that he owned it or not honestly it’s just a tuba.

Yeah, it’s fun to think that maybe he put a few notes in it for me!

That SN indicates a build date of January 1976. February at the latest.

Where is the SN on an old 186 with the 2+3 5th?

Serial number is directly below the engraved Mirafone triangle. Front side of the bell.

MiraFone 16086 I cannot find anywhere. 186A model. 5U, 2+3.

The company has never been Mirafone. That spelling was only ever used on instruments bound for the American market. The company name has always been Miraphone.

The 5th valve configuration is optional, and the flat 23 system is still available today. The only thing that changed is that the flat 1 version was so popular on the CC that it became the normal arrangement. You can get anything you want from them if you have the money and the time to wait. You can even get the CC version's 4th valve wrap on the BBb if you ask for it. I have played one of these (BBb, 5 valves, flat whole step, open wrap 4th). It was very slick. I don't know why this is not a configuration more commonly purchased over here.

Many places host the old Miraphone Serial Number List, but it only goes up through 1979 or thereabouts. Here is a link to one copy. (By the way, his example is #10109.)

https://www.adams-music.shop/en/repair- ... hone_brass

Mine is apparently quite a bit later than that. I had assumed it was older because of the 5th valve and the spelling on the bell. In any case, for me it plays quite well in tune.

Mary Ann wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2026 9:00 am Mine is apparently quite a bit later than that. I had assumed it was older because of the 5th valve and the spelling on the bell. In any case, for me it plays quite well in tune.

If it’s the one I sold you, I have it on record that it’s from the ‘90s. They kept the ‘Fone spelling up until around 2000ish.

Hopefully, a student or colleague will recognize the description of this 1976 horn. Actually thought it was perhaps an early 188. Seems so much larger than a silver 186 I had in the early 80s. Would love to have that one back!

Lawrencegood wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2026 10:08 am Hopefully, a student or colleague will recognize the description of this 1976 horn. Actually thought it was perhaps an early 188. Seems so much larger than a silver 186 I had in the early 80s. Would love to have that one back!

Can you post a pic? Upload it to imgur.com or similar hosting site. Or email me at beanhillbrass at iCloud dot com and I can post ‘em.

I'd have sworn I've seen a photo of Pilafian with his quintet holding a 186 on some recording/album cover.

But then....I swear all the time....

dp wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2026 11:18 am I'd have sworn I've seen a photo of Pilafian with his quintet holding a 186 on some recording/album cover.

But then....I swear all the time....

Attached below are all the album covers Sam recorded. The hindemith album appears to look like a 186 or just the MW Bill Bell model with the long fifth valve which he loved.

Porky wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2026 10:32 am
Attached below are all the album covers Sam recorded. The hindemith album appears to look like a 186 or just the MW Bill Bell model with the long fifth valve which he loved.

image is entirely illegible...

Pay no attention to DP he’s a clown.

Thank you for sharing the covers. Yes that is a 186 on the Hindemith lp. I stand corrected about him not playing on a Miraphone 186.

@dp here is a clearer image I pulled from imgur:

JCTuba67 wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2026 1:17 pm Pay no attention to DP he’s a clown.
(Thank you for sharing the covers. Yes that is a 186 on the Hindemith lp. I stand corrected about [Sam] not playing on a Miraphone 186.)