The person who ordered it developed a health issue (right around the time that the bells arrived) which defined that they have not really been able to drive all the way here, have me install it, and drive all the way back.
Someone (a young person - a trumpet player, and former employee of an instrument manufacturer) I have become distantly acquainted with has family here, and comes home each year for Christmas. Last year, I had them bring me a very large case (not a tuba case) in exchange for some gas money...
I networked again with them this year, and they brought this person's tuba here.
They're heading back tomorrow, so here's the tuba with the new bell installed:
As agreed, it's "clean", but not polished nor lacquered (and notice that the rest of the instrument is not lacquered).
Here's the thing, though...
Obviously someone straightened out the entire instrument (and did a darn good job)...victim of a car wreck...?? (who knows?)
...Unlike the repairs on the rest of the instrument, the bell flare looked pretty terrible (well, the bottom bow cap as well...I'm thinking that repair person didn't know any tricks in regards to dealing with two layers of soldered-together sheet metal), and (I'm sure, years after whomever straightened out the instrument did so) that prompted the owner of the tuba (when I was taking orders) to order a new bell...
...but - just because someone did their best doesn't mean that's the best that could have been done.
Here's a quickee/free (Christmas present to the owner of the tuba) job on the (kranz only...the bad part) original bell.
The original bell weighs noticeably less than the new one, and is probably one of the last that was fabricated with a gusset (V-shaped sheet metal insert).
The original is (now) a good bell, and I see no signs of heavy buffing, so: very viable.
Having done a good bit of "free stuff" (as shown, just above) on the original bell, I did NOT remove all of the small dents from (not many, really) from the rest of this original bell. I also didn't remove nor wipe away the solder, and I also left my felt-tip written-on-the-bell measurements (for the new bell, as far as placing the lyre holder, thumb ring, strap ring, and how much to trim off the bottom (as manufacturers nearly always ship them needing to be trimmed...(This new one needed about 1/4 inch trimmed off the bottom.)
If there's a moral to the story, maybe it's that if someone earnestly tells you that they've done the best that they can do, it still might not be the best that could be done by someone.
oh yeah:
The valves and S-arm linkage, are as-new quiet. Stop tearing off perfectly repairable beautiful S-arm linkage !!!
and: I wasn't the one who did the work on this linkage...Someone (probably the person who straightened out the tuba) did it.