NLIC

This Sousaphone was reportedly built for a gentleman named Keller who played in the Reading Railroad Band in Pennsylvania. Keller was playing this horn in the John Philip Sousa Band at the time of Sousa's death in Reading in 1923.  This impressive instrument was all-over silverplated and then gold plated over that. It has a 23inch bell and stands 50 in overall.   It is beautifully engraved on the bell with a picture of a growling tiger. A 4 Valve  EEb Sousaphone of this size is unusual.  The fourth valve provides intonation compensation on some notes and permits an additional lower octave. Serial Number 206995.  This sousa is no longer in my collection as it has found a new home in Germany!