Oh, my going from trombone to trumpet. . . is your family concerned? 

Hello, Donna from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  I have been protecting my Great Grandpa's tuba for many years ( I am 64). Though it is tarnished, it will clean up well.  My question is where do I find the serial number?  I'm guessing it to be c1900, is JW York & Sons.  Thank you in advance!

Thank you!  #35197 with a 2 above it.  Bell 15" and total height is 29".  Pearl inlaid valve buttons, engraved JW York & Sons.  What do I have here?  Any info is helpful...plan to give it to a nephew who played Tuba in school....
Thank you!

With those dimensions, I suspect that you have a 1913 Eb Tuba. 

During that time period, many bands played in high pitch, and others played in low pitch.  Modern bands play in low pitch.  So, to use the horn with modern band, it will need to tune to low pitch.  Fortunately, York had developed and patented an adjustment that allowed the player to convert between high and low pitch.  There may be a loop of tubing off the main tuning slide that is used to make the conversion. 

That's the good news.  Eb tubas are good instruments, but unfortunately over the last 50 years, the Eb has pretty much been phased out of the modern concert band.  I think that is too bad, and I will play an Eb in band when I get the chance.  But, most younger players have never played an Eb and don't know how to finger it. 

Now if your nephew started out on trumpet, then he may find the switch to Eb tuba fingering not too difficult. 

And, the Eb does have a lovely melodic sound, that he may find rewarding.

This is a York Eb Tuba Serial#35197

Hallo!
Mein Name ist Britta und ich lebe in Deutschland!
Hatte hier schon vor langer Zeit (2008)ein Profil (eifelhorn),
aber leider ist mir der alte Nutzername erst nach der Neuanmeldung
wieder eingefallen !
Blase schon lange Jagdhorn in verschiedenen Gruppen
und ich liebe antike Hörner und sammel sie!
Meist Jagdhörner und andere Naturhörner,
aber auch wenige Ventilinstrumente!
Etwas über die Geschichte, Nutzung und Instrumentenbauer
meiner Hörner zu erfahren ist mir sehr wichtig!
Freue mich auf Gleichgesinnte !

hi