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Portable tubaphone

The tubaphone is a type of metallophone arranged the manner of a xylophone, but having metal tubes instead of bars. This example is a portable model in which the lower set of tubes (natural notes) folds underneath the upper set (accidentals) into a wooden box-frame "suitcase." The tubes are made of nickel-silver, being open on both sides. Each tube has one hole on back through which it is secured onto the frame and the top ends have extra soldered metal for tuning purposes. It has a full chromatic scale, where the lowest note is B-flat (2 octaves, plus low B and B-flat). It has a pair of beaters made of bamboo with a hard-rubber head.

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  • Inscriptions:Note symbols and letters stamped on each tube.|Stamped on beaters: PREMIER MADE IN ENGLAND / 69 HARD
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:111.232 Sets of percussion tubes
  • Repository:Museum of Army Music
  • Measurements:Length: 620mm; Width: 575mm; Height: 105mm; Diameter of each tube: app. 20mm