Ernst Albert Couturier was born in Poughkeepsie N.Y. in 1869.  He was an accomplished soloist cornet player, and was subsequently known for his invention or the "Couturier Conical Bore" line of instruments, He worked for Holton in Elkhorn who produced his large bore cornet model.  In 1918 he established the E.A. Couturier Band Instrument Co. in New York. He was awarded a patent in 1913 for his continuous conical bore instrument design. Couturier was primarily known for his cornets and trumpets, and his lower brass instruments are fairly rare. This tuba has an immense 20" bell and a suberb low end for a 3 valve tuba!

In 1920 my  grandfather  bought a Couturier gold plated cornet for my father (8 years old), who eventually passed it down to me.  In 5th grade I was forcibly graduated to tuba - as I was the largest guy in the band.   It somehow seems fitting that I now own a Couturier Conical Bore Tuba! The only problem with these instruments is that the conical bore does not allow removeable crooks for each valve, and unless washed out regularly, excess grunge can accumulate!