Mystery Miller-type valve

[davebb]

This is for sale locally (NZ)
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=1nuO2MbW

At first glance it looks like a Miller valve on presumably a Bach 42. On closer inspection, the attachment wrap is on the wrong side and has an extra brace, the slide is too narrow and the and crook is wrong. In an answer to a question, the seller said that there are no markings for make / model.

Were there imitation Miller Valves made in Asia somewhere at some time ?

[NBischoff]

It's a Bach Balanced or "K" Valve. I have one on my 42.

[Burgerbob]

Yup, looks like a 36K or 42K. My bet would be 42K. There should be the usual stamp on the bell. Plenty more K valves than Miller valves out there.

[davebb]

Thanks Guys
Looks like the score is 2-0 in favour of it being the real deal.
I pressed "Buy Now" so will let you know how it pans out.

Dave

[Burgerbob]

We're biased (NB has a 42K, I have a 36K) but it should be a good horn if it's not too much money!

[JohnL]

Were there imitation Miller Valves made in Asia somewhere at some time ?

Yes. I remember seeing at least one vendor from China with a K-valve clone several years ago at the NAMM show. That particular example was very sluggish, but that could easily have been the result of far too many hands having already messed with it (it was day 3 of the show).

[Grahambone]

I’m pretty sure that is a Chinese copy of the Bach 42K, not the real thing. Handslide definitely isn’t a Bach.

Graham

[FOSSIL]

Looks like folks should have looked a little closer at the slide....that's not a Bach slide...and if there's no name on the bell, I hope it was cheap.

Chris

[BGuttman]

Let us know how it works. Yeah about the slide -- I don't think Bach ever offered a single radius slide bow like King.

[davebb]

Yep I did a bit more research after I pushed the button. I now think it's probably something like this:
https://reevesbrass.com/academy-pro-bbf ... -969-p.asp (The shape of the cork barrels looks similar.)

It could be a catch and release scenario or it might play well enough to keep for marching jobs.

If I end up selling it again I should be able to recover my costs and there's a chance of finding a useful mouthpiece in the case. Either way I'll post some photos and a review.

[Burgerbob]

Sorry to lead you astray, I had no idea there were knockoff K instruments.

[davebb]

Sorry to lead you astray, I had no idea there were knockoff K instruments.

I'm not worried about it at all. Cost is about the same as a plastic trombone.
It's surprising that anyone would bother to go to the effort of copying the K valve !

I may be "buy-now trigger happy" after missing out on a mountain bike a few weeks back.