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This Tuba Tuesday the Museum features a Distin, B flat euphonium, 3 piston, c.1904.

Bell Diameter is 11 1/2, the bore is .560 & the height is 26.0.”

“SUPERIOR / (picture of eagle holding euphonium with illegible writing around it) / HENRY DISTIN MFG. CO. / MAKERS / WILLIAMSPORT Pa. / HIGHEST GRADE / 15927” on bell. Ornate floral engraving on bell around identification marks.





https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... -3-piston/

Do we know that Diston labeled it a "euphonium"?

oh yeah...not to be argumentative...

IT'S COOL !

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21A ... by&o=OneUp

Pg. 20 I believe...3 years after the above inst was made...a Bb Baritone (or in that era, a Bb Bass)

Thanks for the catalog link!

I own a ca. 1909 small Distin E-flat that was high pitch and has been converted to low pitch.

I now see that it is a Model 16, down to the detail of the floral engraving:



Unfortunately, when it was converted from high to low pitch, not only did the person who did the work decide to extend the main tuning slide, but also all the valve circuits as well, which makes it play pretty wacky.

I think the writing (picture of eagle holding euphonium with illegible writing around it) is "Trade Mark".
That's what my Distin euphoniums (SN 16034/18266 & 16449/18568) say.

bisontuba wrote: Mon Apr 08, 2024 10:14 pm This Tuba Tuesday the Museum features a Distin, B flat euphonium, 3 piston, c.1904.

Bell Diameter is 11 1/2, the bore is .560 & the height is 26.0.”

“SUPERIOR / (picture of eagle holding euphonium with illegible writing around it) / HENRY DISTIN MFG. CO. / MAKERS / WILLIAMSPORT Pa. / HIGHEST GRADE / 15927” on bell. Ornate floral engraving on bell around identification marks.





https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... -3-piston/

I have one of these. Still plays.

Cool!

What does it play? (and "music" is a sufficiently precise answer for my taste, but i would not complain about greater detail)

Is it Junior from your signature?

These puppies wail!

I believe I have one of these from 1906. It doesn't say Superior over the eagle, but has plenty of beautiful engraving! Thoughts?
Maybe a silly question, but should the number on the bell be different from that on the bell? We have a number of low brass horns kicking around, but this is the only one with what looks like two serial numbers.

I have one of these as well.

It was the first Euph I ever owned. Got it in 1986. Complete with case, lyre, mouthpiece and some pig tail ext. The only thing I don't have today, is the case. I need to polish it but it still plays today.

Won my first soloist competition on this thing.

Charmaine wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:59 am I believe I have one of these from 1906. It doesn't say Superior over the eagle, but has plenty of beautiful engraving! Thoughts?
Maybe a silly question, but should the number on the bell be different from that on the bell? We have a number of low brass horns kicking around, but this is the only one with what looks like two serial numbers.

Mine doesn't say SUPERIOR either. The Serial number on the bell is different than the number the valves.

humBell wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2025 11:06 am Cool!

What does it play? (and "music" is a sufficiently precise answer for my taste, but i would not complain about greater detail)

Is it Junior from your signature?

It is. I didn't realize this was an older post.

Charmaine wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:59 am ...
Maybe a silly question, but should the number on the bell be different from that on the bell?
...

Yes, i'm pretty sure the numbers should be different.If you come across older Brau Keefers and Boosey & Co instruments, they too will have two serial numbers on each. I speculate those were both important enough to the company to track? And while i name 3 companies with the practice, in reality they are all started by Distin. Early 1870s, Distin sold his company in London to Boosey & Co, and, after working for Pepper as an importer, started one in America, which became Keefer after his passing? I probably should just find the links to brasshistory maker pages or horn-u-opia, rather than try to remember it all...

Anyway, i like them all.

fascinating. Thank you for the bit o history.

Thanks for the info, everyone! My teens and I started a bit of an 'instrument rescue' last year, and this was one of our first finds. We had no idea what was under layers of grunge and spotty, discolored, aftermarket lacquer. It did arrive in Canada with the original mouthpiece somehow, but nothing else.
My middle son plays the tuba and bass trombone, so I think this one is being added to our permanent collection. I'm sure it'll have a name in no time!

Charmaine wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:01 pm Thanks for the info, everyone! My teens and I started a bit of an 'instrument rescue' last year, and this was one of our first finds. We had no idea what was under layers of grunge and spotty, discolored, aftermarket lacquer. It did arrive in Canada with the original mouthpiece somehow, but nothing else.
My middle son plays the tuba and bass trombone, so I think this one is being added to our permanent collection. I'm sure it'll have a name in no time!

Someone lacquered it?!?!?! I'd love to see those photos.. .

I bought mine in New Castle, PA.

Actually completed my undergrad on that mouthpiece.

I was 14/15 when I named mine 'Junior Baraphonium'.

I'll see myself out. LOL.

I found a folder with additional photos of it.

https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/060V ... araphonium

I could have sworn I took more pics, but here's one for now. I was stumped as to what was causing the discoloration, as the thought of someone lacquering silver didn't even cross my mind. It took forever to remove it all!

I've read that old nitrocellulose lacquer is somewhat air permeable, so lacquered silver will tarnish underneath the lacquer.

Charmaine wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 1:03 am I could have sworn I took more pics, but here's one for now. I was stumped as to what was causing the discoloration, as the thought of someone lacquering silver didn't even cross my mind. It took forever to remove it all!

what's the serial number on the bell?