It is indeed a Geyer, the etching is faint and just readable. Valves are actually in great shape and extremely responsive. I'm getting a strange buzz, that I could not locate on the body solders anywhere. Then I noticed that the mouthpiece drops about 1/4" further than either my Holton or Paxman. Did Geyer use a European shank on some of his horns? And, would using a standard shank mouthpiece cause buzzing. Even with the buzzing, this thing soars to C no issues and very flexible, would just love to get rid of the stuffy buzzing. More as I work it out. Thanks

So, went over the thing with a fine-toothed comb. There is one little crack and two leaks at spots where sections meet. I'm guessing re-brazing these spots, and the crack which is tiny should be fairly reasonable. Also another spot that needs to be looked at, which was a screwy repair to the muting valve, which can either be filled or rotated back into place. That will mean taking apart the trigger and stop plates to see what needs to happen, but eminently repairable. Yes, in crappy looking shape, but really playable once these few tweaks are done. I'm reminded of a tuba player I know who had a very bent up 5 rotary valve silver tuba. Looked horrid, played like a dream, and prevented it from ever being stolen. Who cares, it looked like !***!? So as long as it plays I don't care.

Final note, the WD40 did it's work on the tuning slide (I was afraid this would have to be done professionally). I know it's a bit crass, but that stuff finally worked through whatever was making the slide stick and now the slide works great. I took apart the trigger and accompanying valve and it appears that someone was trying to reorient the stop plate. Who knows why?

Wow! A real Geyer! Let us know how it plays.

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://beforhorn.blogspot.com/

Even with the crude electrical tape repair, this thing is butter. I suspect I need a slightly larger shank, it is somewhere between a euro and standard shank. Talking with an owner of a very early Geyer, he suspects he imported receivers from Europe for the taper his first few years. Anyways, I did not expect the Bb B and C to sing like they did, having run into few Fs that do that. These are great. There are a few funky notes that I suspects are because of minor leaks that need attention (joints, 3 located with some loss). Below Ledger G the basso is huge and silky, the top end sounds like deep fried butter and the center is a great smooth yet strident sound. It doesn't pump out the volume like a modern horn but for chamber work, this will be the horn. Now to find a chamber group!

I'd suggest you consult with Tom Greer, maker of Moosewood custom mouthpieces. He is a mouthpiece expert. A friend of mine bought a new Hans Hoyer a couple years ago. He struggled & struggled and never could play a high A. He finally got Tom to make him a custom mouthpiece just for that horn. Voila, suddenly a high A anytime he needed it. Tom knows what mouthpiece features are needed for each & every horn.

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://beforhorn.blogspot.com/
http://comfyhornstrap.blogspot.com/

I'll have to look into it, his website seems to cover every and anything a player may want. You're going to hate me when I say how much the horn was. It was from a guy clearing a high school music room, $255.

You're right. I hate you! ;o)

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://beforhorn.blogspot.com/
http://comfyhornstrap.blogspot.com/