Brass Clinic

Maurice Faulkner, Contributing Editor

How to Care for a

TRUMPETS
CORNETS
FLUEGELHORNS
MOUTHPIECES
Custom and Standard
for all Brass Instruments
YAMAHA
BRASS and REEDS
The New Schilke
Mil TRUMPET
A great break-through in
trumpet manufacture.
Priced at 395.00 (including
- case and mouthpiece), it
equals or surpasses other
brands costing much more.
Rotary-Valved TubaRex
There is no doubt that the rotary
valved-tubas are becoming more
popular with serious tuba students,
and are being used in ever-increas-
ing numbers in high school and
college concert bands.
Students and directors often ask
how to take the valves apart and
clean them, although this is seldom
necessary if the instruments are
properly cared for and played regu-
larly. All that is usually needed is
to immerse the tuba in a tub full of
warm water and a mild liquid de-
tergent, and then flush it out with
clear water. However, when rotary-
valved tubas are left over a long per-
iod of time without playing (usually
over a hot dry summer), it is quite
likely that the valves will become
frozen, or at least stuck. This is due
to dried saliva and calcium depos-
ited around the valve. Running wat-
er through the mouthpipe will usu-
ally loosen the valves, but if this
doesn't work, you can usually take
hold of the stop arm and break the
rotors loose. Never force the key, as
it will bend when too much pressure
is applied.
Regardless of how much care a
Conner
then tap on it with a rawhide mal-
let or leave the screw driver in the
slot and tap on it with a hammer.
This is a dangerous procedure on
some tubas. It is better to find a
tool, or make one, that is the diame-
ter of the stop-arm head screw, min-
us the head screw threads (so that
the threads will not be damaged in
the valve shaft). An old ice pick
shortened and placed in the chuck of
a drill and filed down to the correct
diameter will work fine. It can then
be put down into the place from
which the screw was removed, and
tapped with a hammer until the
valve and bearing unit drop out. It
is possible to use a small steel
dowel on top of the valve shaft;
however, it might damage the top
of the threads. Be sure to catch
the bearing unit and valve as they
fall from the valve casing!
Once the valve is out of the cas-
ing it can be cleaned. Since it is
solid brass, "Brasso" can be used
without any appreciable amount of
metal being removed. After the
STOP ARM HEAD SCREW

tuba is given, the time will eventu-

Play the new Schilke Mil
and discover Schilke's suc-
cess in developing a pro-
fessional grade trumpet at
a moderate price.
THE SCHILKE CO.
529So.WabashAve.
Chicago, III. 60605
312-922-0570
PLEASE SEND:
D Instrument Catalog
D Mouthpiece Catalog
Name .
Address.
City/State.
Zip
40
ally arrive when the valves must be
taken apart for cleaning. It is not STOP ARM HEAD
difficult and can be done quickly;
however, it must be done correctly,
and with some caution. First, re-
move the valve cap on the under-
side. If it will not loosen easily,
wrap cardboard or leather around it
(to protect the metal) and loosen it
with a pair of vice grip pliers. There
is-no cap that will screw off of the
top, although many look like they
might.
The next step is the most critical VALVE
one. Repair manuals and French
horn players may say to loosen the
stop-arm screw a few turns and
Rex Conner teaches tuba at the Univer-
sity of Kentucky. He holds degrees TJ BEARING UNIT
from Kansas University and Missouri
University. A frequent guest recitalist
and clinician, he has taught at the VALVE CAP
National Music Camp in Interlochen
for the past 15 summers.
 Brass Clinic small pipe (preferably of soft it between a pair of pliers with the
Maurice Faulkner. Contributing Editor
metal) which fits over the bearing grain of the cork. (Duck billed
valve is cleaned, you can clean the ridge works well; otherwise, take pliers are best for this work.) In
casing. This is a little difficult a small, wooden dowel-rod and tap its somewhat flattened state the
since there is only one cap on it; it lightly as it is rotated around cork can then be pushed into place
but it can be cleaned by flushing or the outer edge of the bearing unit. quite easily. Apply some pressure
blowing all the foreign material If this plate isn't down flush and and it will spread out again and
out of it. Remember, good rotors at exact right angles with the bottom remain in place.
have very close tolerance and the valve shaft it will bind, and the Before replacing the stop arm
smallest particle of dirt can cause valve will be immobile. Quite often head it is best to screw the valve
them to stick. My own tuba will this is the cause of stuck rotary cap on tightly to hold the bearing
still show evidence of compression valves. A light tap at the correct unit firmly in place while the stop
a full forty seconds after the third spot on the bearing plate will of- arm head is replaced. Some heads
slide is pushed in. ten free the valve. fit the valve shaft very tightly.
Now that the valves and casings (They are conical.) After the stop
Check the Corks
are clean, you can oil the bearing arm head is on, remove the valve
ridges, and the shafts of the valves; Before putting the valve cap cap once more, take a strip of
however, this is not necessary back on, you must now check the emery paper just wide enough to go
even considered unwise by many. corks on the top side of the valve between the stop arm and the cork,
Do not oil the entire rotor. If the casings to see if they are the cor- place the emery paper between the
rotor will spin freely in the casing, rect thickness and in good condi- stop arm and the cork, press the
you are ready to reassemble. tion. These corks insure that the stop arm lightly and pull the emery
Most bearing units or plates, valves will stop precisely at the through the two until the cork is
which fit over the bottom valve right point. If the corks need re- sanded enough for the marks on the
shaft and inside the valve casing, placing, obtain some rod cork about valve shaft to match up with the
have a bearing mark, perhaps done three eighths of an inch in diameter marks on the raised portion of the
with a file, and this mark must and cut a piece off so that it is just bearing unit. This procedure will
match perfectly with the continu- the same height as the plate that form a small circular seating in the
ing mark on the valve casing. After holds the corks. Remove the old rod cork for the stop arm which
the bearing plate is in the correct corks with a small screwdriver. makes valve action just firm enough,
position, tap it down flush with Next, take the piece of rod cork yet not "spongy" or too hard.
the walls of the valve casing. A that has been cut off and squeeze
String Action
Nothing has been said here
Mr. Band Director: This new complete about restringing keys with string
action. Most French horn players
Catalog is a "must" for your files! can give this information. The
We'll be pleased to send your personal copy with our compliments! Practical Band Instrument Repair
Manual by Clayton H. Tiede gives
an excellent description as well as
Beautiful new full-color drawings for this operation.* One
tuba distributor is now using a
Catalog of 50-lb. test monofilament fishing
line instead of the usual nylon or
silk string and it is excellent. If
PRESTIGE I you are playing a tuba with me-
UNIFORMS I chanical linkage and it is noisy,
put a drop of 30 weight motor oil
on the body of the screw and it
will stop the noise if it isn't too
badly worn. The wear is usually in
the screw. If you are paying good
money for a new tuba, buy one that
tanburijL 1972 will remain silent for years to
come. Noisy valve action, whether
piston or rotary, should not be tol-
9 I'REE 36 pages of color photographs of bands and erated on a tuba at any price.
band uniformseverything from new treatments of old favorites from One final tip if you would
America's colorful past to totally different designs based upon a con- like to have your lacquer finish
cept of the "band uniforms of tomorrow." All this plus page after page look good for a long time, use John-
of shakos, caps, convertors and all types of accessories. It's a "must" son's "Pledge" on it after clean-
for your permanent file, and it's yours for the asking! ing with soap and water.
For Your FREE Copy, Write TODAY to: G. S. Caldwell
STANBURY UNIFORMS 7233 Troost, Kansas City, Mo. 64131 * Tiede, Clayton H., The Practical Band In-
strument Repair Manual, Dubuque. Iowa,
Wm. C. Brown, 1962. Permission to repro-
There's a Stanbury Sales/Service Representative in Your Area duce pictures in this article granted by Mr.
Tiede.
U