Posted by Rick Denney on July 14, 2003 at 13:29:07:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Rob PM - Identify this Old Conn? posted by Alex C on July 13, 2003 at 21:45:08:
My catalog copy surely doesn't undermine what you are saying. I just looked, and the 32J, 36J, and 80J are all listed on the same page as front-action instruments. In that catalog, they are called "Deluxe Recording Basses" and have removable forward bells. The only difference noted with the 80J was a smaller bore through the valves. All the 3xJ's mentioned in this catalog were called "key of BBb" and I saw no mention of CC tubas. But the catalog page Stauffer reprinted in his book shows a fixed, upright bell, the name "Orchestra Grand Bass", both CC and BBb pitches, and the label 36J. The differences indeed do not include anything like the variation in valve branches shown in the photo at the top of this thread, and the differences seem to be bell configuration and pitch only.
Rick "dating the catalog at 1935 based on the testimonial letters" Denney