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This beautiful Conn 5 valve double bell euphonium was one of two double bells made especially for the Royal Hawaiian Band in 1932.  The Royal Hawaiian Band was formally organized in 1836 by King Kamehameha III and became the first brass band in the Pacific, and today is the second oldest community band and the only full-time municipal band in the United States!
The grandson of the original bandsman who played one of these euphoniums in the Royal Hawaiian Band tells the story that apparently the band director at the time had someone arrange a piece of music with  parts for double bell euphoniums so that he could justify the purchase of the two double bell euphoniums. Later on. a trombone player in the Air Force Band purchased one of them. played with the University of Hawaii band, became a professional musician, and moved to Los Angeles. I was recently contacted by Bob Romans of the "Cell Block 7 Jazz Band" in Lodi California... he owns the twin Royal Hawaiian Conn Double bell!!

This euphonium is silver plated - with a gold wash in each bell. Based on the serial number,  this horn was built around 1932. There have been a few small well done repairs, but it is in remarkably good condition. An interesting feature is that both bells have the intricate "naked lady" engraving usually limited to the large bell.  Conn was known for their "Naked Lady"  engravings on their very best horns-

I recently visited the Metropolitain Museum of Art- and had a rare behind the scene  tour of their musical instrument collection.  One especially rare  horn was a 1936  Conn DB Euph engraved by their master engraver- Julius Sternberg.  With (count them!) 9 naked ladies!!
Scroll down to see a Pic of  me playing this unique instrument!


"Duplex" instruments were first attempted in England in 1851 with a combination of an althorn  and cornet.  The idea was to combine two instruments of identical pitch using a common  mouthpiece, lead pipe and valve set- but with different  or contrasting sounds obtained from  different sized bells - which were often oriented  in different directions.  Combinations such as a flugel horn and cornet; alto horn and E flat trumpet, euphonium and valve trombone and tuba and bass trombone were tried. Besson of UK tried "doublophones" with only a common mouthpiece and leadpipe.

In the USA, the first duplex euphonium-valve trombone instruments were made by Conn in the 1880s. In 1889, Sousa's solo euphoniumist, Michael Raffayalo adopted the instrument. These instruments became popular with soloists for their ability to provide different sounds and echo effects with the same horn.   There are newsreel shots of the John Phillip Sousa Band with a rank of his "raincatcher" upward bell sousaphones and with a front row of double bell euphoniums!   Their popularity  waned after WWII but they were made up to the 1960s with the last offer in a King catalog.

The fourth valve when depressed, provides compensation for accuracy on some notes. The fifth valve selects the smaller bell.  The 4th and 5th valves are operated by the left hand.