Posted by Rob P-M on August 12, 2001 at 20:49:16:
In Reply to: Re: Speaking of pro BBb's...& other thoughts posted by Klaus on August 12, 2001 at 19:02:18:
Your 40K is the 4 valve version of the 38K Sousaphone Grand (forerunner of the 20K), as you know.
That old 'raincatcher' horn looks like it's based on the Monster BBb helicon of the 'teens and 'twenties. I have one of the helicons (a restoration project waiting to happen) and it's the same .734 bore through the valves. The outer branches are smaller than my 20K, however.
My '20s catalog copy illustrates the helicon (showing the 4 valve BBb 'monster' size version), the rain catcher, and the Sousaphone Grand.
While the illustrations aren't photos, the size of the outer main branches appears larger for the Sousaphone Grand than the other 2 horns.
The specs show the helicon at 20-3/4 lbs (probably w/4th valve as illustrated, and a 22" bell), the raincatcher at 20 lbs (also a 22" bell), and the Sousaphone Grand (38K) at 22 lbs (with a 24" bell).