rotor designs
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rotor designs
What's the strangest rotor designs you've ever seen? Pro's and Con's?
If you want to share your custom stuff I'll be glad to see it!
If you want to share your custom stuff I'll be glad to see it!
- harrisonreed
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Re: rotor designs
Holton monster "anti-tank" valve. Weird as heck.
The Shires trubores are weird to me, too.
The Shires trubores are weird to me, too.
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Re: rotor designs
The Holton "monster" is mighty odd
- Burgerbob
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Re: rotor designs
Super strange one is the Holton Monster valve
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
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Re: rotor designs
I bet the guy who invented the Holton Monster Valve is really chuffed at the unanimous praise his valve has got!
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Stewbones
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Re: rotor designs
I'm kinda bummed I've never run into one. It at least looks worth trying out.
- JohnL
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Re: rotor designs
The Olds rotor design with an internal spring and a hidden stop looks really clean, but the little O-ring on the stop post doesn't last all that long. You have to disassemble the valve to replace the o-ring. I carry spare o-rings and a rawhide mallet in my mute bag and can replace a bumper in under five minutes. Since the back bearing is not accessible, they drilled the screw hole extra deep and put in a cross passage at the bearing; to oil the back bearing, you remove the screw and drip oil down the hole.
Olds also made some French horns with dual-stop rotors and a system for taking up end play. They were made just before WWII and were not reintroduced after the war, so they're quite rare.
Olds also made some French horns with dual-stop rotors and a system for taking up end play. They were made just before WWII and were not reintroduced after the war, so they're quite rare.
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Re: rotor designs
Weirdest design I've seen is where the tubing slides side to side to engage the F section!
Eric Edwards
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"If you must choose between two evils, choose the one you haven't tried yet."
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." -Sophocles
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Re: rotor designs
Oh yeah! I remember that one. I mean, it was an interesting design, but I can't imagine that it sealed particularly well. I stopped hearing about them.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
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Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
- BGuttman
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Re: rotor designs
I nominate the Bach K valve. Unless you had a pretty skinny neck it would dig in. Played pretty well, if you could tolerate it.
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- Slidennis
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Re: rotor designs
Hulot valve, from a french brass tech who patented it years ago :
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Denis the musician wannabe trying to depart from gear geeking... 

- harrisonreed
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Re: rotor designs
The Yamaha Japan-only rotor is also weird, as is the Yamaha Bousfield rotor:
But this one takes the cake -- a no rotor f attachment:
But this one takes the cake -- a no rotor f attachment:
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- elmsandr
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Re: rotor designs
Well, probably more annoyed that the design wasn’t optimized in the way he intended. Production models were more like functional prototypes.stewbones43 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 2:02 pm I bet the guy who invented the Holton Monster Valve is really chuffed at the unanimous praise his valve has got!
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Speaking of which, I’d like to have another 1 or 2 to build the forbidden double…
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: rotor designs
Maybe doesn't meet the definition of a "rotor", but definitely the strangest valve design.
Brad Close Brass Instruments - brassmedic.com
- ithinknot
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Re: rotor designs
Ignoring the separate lever, it's just a cuboid piston.brassmedic wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 9:45 am Maybe doesn't meet the definition of a "rotor", but definitely the strangest valve design.
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Re: rotor designs
Zig Kanstul incorporated most of the ideas from the Monster Valve into his CR (Constant Resistance) valve. It was one of the entrants in Round 2 of the Trombone Valve Wars. I don't understand why Holton released that valve in the state it was in.elmsandr wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:56 amWell, probably more annoyed that the design wasn’t optimized in the way he intended. Production models were more like functional prototypes.stewbones43 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 2:02 pm I bet the guy who invented the Holton Monster Valve is really chuffed at the unanimous praise his valve has got!
Cheers
Stewbones
Speaking of which, I’d like to have another 1 or 2 to build the forbidden double…
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: rotor designs
The CR is "Nothing" like the Monster. The CR is a Greenhoe valve made with a casing and port inserts, instead of being machined from solid.
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
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Re: rotor designs
Appreciate everyone's opinion and the video . More relaxed here than other chat forums
- elmsandr
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Re: rotor designs
Eh, nah. The monster has three internal pathways, more akin to a Trubore, Hagmann, or the Minick valves.
A brazed construction, sure, but different air paths.
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: rotor designs
I'll defer to your expertise, Matt. I'm sure you have disassembled more of both valves than I've seen in person.hornbuilder wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 7:12 pm The CR is "Nothing" like the Monster. The CR is a Greenhoe valve made with a casing and port inserts, instead of being machined from solid.
In my defense, back in the day I saw images of what may have been CR prototype valves (I think it was on Steve Ferguson's website). The rotor had slightly bent tubing brazed into a pair of skeletonized supporting plates, with a pivot bearing in the center. That's awfully close to the Monster construction, although Andy says the Monster has a third tube--which would explain the crazy diameter of the Holton valve.
Until recently I've not seen later (production?) CR rotors. Those I've seen don't show the skeletonized pivots-and-plates structure I recall from the early CR images.
I do recall looking at the early pictures and wondering how Kanstul was going to build those things.
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Re: rotor designs
Maybe a variation of pumpen valve? I mean it's the same basic concept, but rotated 90 degrees.ithinknot wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 1:37 pmIgnoring the separate lever, it's just a cuboid piston.brassmedic wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 9:45 am Maybe doesn't meet the definition of a "rotor", but definitely the strangest valve design.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
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- jonathanharker
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Re: rotor designs
As it happens, I've recently been working on a commonplace about trombone valves, mostly for fun, but might one day become an article I'd like to publish somewhere, but more about that later/elsewhere perhaps. Along the way I've been collecting lots of useful diagrams and photos, or creating/taking them where they're not available, for instance:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cate ... e_diagrams
Could anyone who owns any of these weird valves, in particular a monster valve on the Holton TR140, or the Yamaha Bousfield (Minick) or "V" valves, please let me know if they'd be willing to take a nice photo for me/Wikipedia/posterity/future generations (i.e. release it as public domain, or Creative Commons CC-BY if you'd like to retain the photo credit). It would need to be on a plain white background, similar to this one for a Thayer valve. Thanks very much in advance, and just think, your nice photo might grace the pages of a journal some day!

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cate ... e_diagrams
Could anyone who owns any of these weird valves, in particular a monster valve on the Holton TR140, or the Yamaha Bousfield (Minick) or "V" valves, please let me know if they'd be willing to take a nice photo for me/Wikipedia/posterity/future generations (i.e. release it as public domain, or Creative Commons CC-BY if you'd like to retain the photo credit). It would need to be on a plain white background, similar to this one for a Thayer valve. Thanks very much in advance, and just think, your nice photo might grace the pages of a journal some day!


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Re: rotor designs
I am curious about this, seemingly new, valve design from Stomvi:

I have only played a couple of Stomvi small bores, and was impressed by the builds but not the playing characteristics - which did not suit me at all. As I am on the lookout for a larger horn - a medium 0.525 or maybe a large 0.547 bore - I get very interested in trying their larger horns; especially if they have a new(?) rotor design.
Does anybody know anything about the larger Stomvi horns, or their new(?) rotor?

I have only played a couple of Stomvi small bores, and was impressed by the builds but not the playing characteristics - which did not suit me at all. As I am on the lookout for a larger horn - a medium 0.525 or maybe a large 0.547 bore - I get very interested in trying their larger horns; especially if they have a new(?) rotor design.
Does anybody know anything about the larger Stomvi horns, or their new(?) rotor?
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- jonathanharker
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Re: rotor designs
That's a modern take on John Shaw's swivel valve (British patent 7892, granted 1838). Tomes, F; Klaus, SK; Myers, A (2013) "Shaw, Köhler and the Disc Valve in Britain", The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 66 (March 2013), pp. 99-116.harrisonreed wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 5:37 am But this one takes the cake -- a no rotor f attachment:
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- harrisonreed
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Re: rotor designs
Cool. Imagine getting your hair caught in it
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Re: rotor designs
Why have a valve when you can have no valve?
viewtopic.php?t=20707
Really cool rotorless F-attachment for a super open blowing experience. Never tried it myself, but there's a video on Facebook or YouTube somewhere where Kissbone gives it a run for it's money with a Carnival exerpt. Check it out!
viewtopic.php?t=20707
Really cool rotorless F-attachment for a super open blowing experience. Never tried it myself, but there's a video on Facebook or YouTube somewhere where Kissbone gives it a run for it's money with a Carnival exerpt. Check it out!
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Re: rotor designs
The strangest valve I know of, is the Lindberg valve. If someone were to say they were going to drill a hole in the gooseneck of your trombone, and stick an empty piece of tube more than a half inch long poking off to the side, everyone would laugh them out of town. But for some reason it is ok inside a valve? I don't get it.
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
- Doug Elliott
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Re: rotor designs
It works for plumbing... water hammer arrestor.
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Re: rotor designs
But the CL valve works well ... doesn't it? I love the short throw!hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 2:13 pm The strangest valve I know of, is the Lindberg valve. If someone were to say they were going to drill a hole in the gooseneck of your trombone, and stick an empty piece of tube more than a half inch long poking off to the side, everyone would laugh them out of town. But for some reason it is ok inside a valve? I don't get it.
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Re: rotor designs
Any votes for the Olds Opera valve with internal spring?
- JohnL
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Re: rotor designs
Apologies, I missed it.
Any chance you could create a video of that operation? I’ve recently acquired an Opera and the valve is good for now but I’d appreciate any help for future maintenance.
- harrisonreed
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Re: rotor designs
This rotor doesn't include the Maxi Clapper so....Digidog wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 2:12 am I am curious about this, seemingly new, valve design from Stomvi:
I have only played a couple of Stomvi small bores, and was impressed by the builds but not the playing characteristics - which did not suit me at all. As I am on the lookout for a larger horn - a medium 0.525 or maybe a large 0.547 bore - I get very interested in trying their larger horns; especially if they have a new(?) rotor design.
Does anybody know anything about the larger Stomvi horns, or their new(?) rotor?
- ithinknot
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Re: rotor designs
Obviously they "get away with" the acoustics in that particular application, based on sales/use, but the anomaly can't be an intrinsically good thing even if the otherwise straight passage has some (compensating?) advantages.hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 2:13 pm The strangest valve I know of, is the Lindberg valve. If someone were to say they were going to drill a hole in the gooseneck of your trombone, and stick an empty piece of tube more than a half inch long poking off to the side, everyone would laugh them out of town. But for some reason it is ok inside a valve? I don't get it.
It would be interesting to see BIAS tests with the valve as is, and with the hernia plugged...
- ithinknot
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Re: rotor designs
With apologies for offtopicity... what are they like? The radii look slightly Bachisch, but I've never seen one in the wild.
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Re: rotor designs
They felt Bach-y; with a quite centered feel in the bell and a solid feel from the tone in the low register up to medium high, but after that was where my playing obviously didn't suit the horns. I played three, and all felt like they lost broadness and flow of tone above C(5?) and to me they felt unstable above Bb(5?). One explanation to this, could have been the slides - or maybe the leadpipes - which gave me an unstable feel and choke-y sense when trying to play loud and high. I had problems finding a mouthpiece in the store that properly fit the leadpipe insert - almost all wobbled more or less.
This was some ten years ago, and I also remember them feeling well built and of good materials. Since then, I've heard much good about Stomvi, and I'm curious to try newer horns, both smaller and those medium/large with the Titán valve.
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- ithinknot
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Re: rotor designs
Appreciate everyone .
I am able to make the right choice from your advice
More relaxed here than other chat forums. Welcome . Happy to join the party
I am able to make the right choice from your advice
More relaxed here than other chat forums. Welcome . Happy to join the party