Production of King Symphony Model Basses started around 1923-24.  Made in good numbers this bass was very popular and stayed in production with a few modifications until the company was sold. 

1924 Specifications:

King BBb: #1250...Symphony BBb Sousaphone, three valves. #1251...Symphony BBb Sousaphone, but with extra fourth register valve.

Note: Six finish options available.

King Eb: #1255...Regular Eb Model, three valves. #1256...Same as #1255, but with extra fourth register valve. King BBb: #1257...Regular BBb Model, three valves. #1258...Same as #1257, but with extra fourth register valve.

Note: Six finish options available.

King BBb

Bell Diameter: 22 Inches

Length:  Inches

Weight: 22+ Ibs.

Bore at The Valves:

1928 Specifications:

1928 Jumbo BBb Sousaphone Model 1265 was added.

#1265

1923 Specifications:

King Giant Sousaphone BBb: #1270...Regular three valve. #1271...Same as 1270, but with extra fourth register valve.

King Cadet Sousaphone: #1247...Regular three valve. #1248...Same as 1247, but with extra fourth register valve.

King Standard Sousaphone BBb: #1250...Regular three valve. #1251...Same as #1250, but with extra fourth register valve.

King Standard Sousaphone Eb: #1260...Regular three valve. #1261...Same as #1260, but with extra fourth register valve.

Note: Six finish options available.

1938 Specifications:

King Giant Sousaphone BBb: #1270...Regular three valve. #1271...Same as 1270, but with extra fourth register valve.

King Standard Sousaphone BBb: #1250-A...Regular three valve. #1250-B...Same as #1250-A, but with extra fourth register valve.

King Standard Sousaphone Eb: #1260...Regular three valve. #1261...Same as #1260, but with extra fourth register valve.

1940 Majestic Model BBb #1247 (No picture)

1946 Specifications:

Sousaphone BBb: #1250-A...Three valves.

Sousaphone Eb: #1260...Three valves.

Note: Three finish options were available.

1963 Specifications:

BBb King Fiberglass Sousaphone #1280...Three valves

 

Top Left:  1924 King Catalog

Middle Left: 1924 Bell Up Models King Catalog

Third Down Left: 1928 King Catalog Jumbo

Bottom Left: 1946 King Catalog

 

Production of King Symphony Model Basses started around 1920-21.  Made in good numbers this bass was very popular and stayed in production with a few modifications until the company was sold. 

1924 Specifications:

Symphony Eb: #1235...Upright Model, three valves. #1236...Same as 1235, but with extra fourth register valve.

Symphony BBb: #1240...Upright Model, three valves. #1241...Same as 1240, but with extra fourth register valve.

Symphony CC: #1245...Upright Model, three valves. #1246...Same as 1245, but with extra fourth register valve.

1932 Specifications:

Symphony Eb: #1235...Upright Model, three valves. #1236...Same as 1235, but with extra fourth register valve.

Symphony BBb: #1240...Upright Model, three valves. #1241...Same as 1240, but with extra fourth register valve.

Bell Diameter: 22 Inches

Length: 45 Inches

Weight: 18+ Ibs.

Bore at The Valves: .687

1940 Specifications:

Symphony Eb: #1235-B...Medium Size Eb Bass, side action model, bell to the left for player. #1237-B...Medium Size Eb Bass, top action, bell to the right of player.

Note: Detachable bell is option and seven finish options were available.

Symphony BBb or CC: #1240-B...Three valves, side action model. #1242-B...Same os 1240, top action. Both can be ordered with extra valve.

Note: Detachable bell is option and seven finish options were available.

1946 Specifications:

Symphony BBb: #1240-B...Three valves. Symphony Eb: #1235-B...Same os 1240.

Note: Three finish options were available. In 1949 the Eb model was dropped from production.

1958 Specifications:

Symphony BBb: #1240...Three valves. Symphony BBb: #1241...Four valves.

Note: Three finish options were available.

 

 

 

 

Top Left:  1924 King Catalog

Middle Left: 1940 King Catalog

Bottom Left: 1946 King Catalog

 

Production of King Small and & Medium size Eb Basses started around 1911.  Made in good numbers both bass types were popular with marching and dance bands.  Production of both instruments ended with the start of WWII and never returned.

1911 Model Numbers:

#287...Brass highly polished.

#288...Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell.

Note: No Small Eb Basses were found in the 1911 Catalog.

1919 Specifications:

King Small Eb: #288...Top Action Valves, Brass highly polished. #288.5 Side Action Valves, Brass highly polished. #289...Top Action Valves, Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell. #289.5 Side Action Valves, Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell.

King Medium Eb: #293...Top Action Valves, Brass highly polished. #293.5 Side Action Valves, Brass highly polished. #294...Top Action Valves, Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell. #294.5 Side Action Valves, Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell.

Bell Diameter: 14 Inches

Length: 30 Inches

Weight: 10 Ibs.

Width of circle: 15 Inches

1924 Specifications:

King Small Eb: #1200...Side Action Model, bell to the left, three valves. #1201...Top Action Model, bell to the right, three valves.

Bell Diameter: 14 Inches

Length: 39Inches

Weight: 11 Ibs.

 

 

 

Top Left:  1911 King Catalog

Middle Left: 1919 King Catalog

Bottom Left: 1938 King Catalog

 

Production of King Rotary Valve Symphony  Bass is thought to have started around 1930.  According to our information not many of these King Rotary basses were made.  By 1936 the King Rotary bass was out of production and it is possible that The H. N. White Company did not make any past that year, but just sold out its inventory.

King Bbb #1280...Four rotary valves.

Note: Five finish options available.

 

 

 

1934 Specifications:

Bore at Valves: .687

Bell Diameter: 22 Inches

Length: 66 Inches

Weight: 22 Ibs.

 

 

 

 

 

Top Left:  1934 King Catalog

 

From The H. N. White's Company's earliest days, they made the finest low brass instruments on the market and led the way in innovation and quality. The H. N. White Company made the following brands: King, American Standard, and Cleveland basses. The H. N. White Company made all of its own Silver Basses and did not stencil any for other companies (that we know of).

This page is designed to show the first known year of production (based on my catalogs) and any changes that are made over the production cycle of the instruments including model numbers and any unique specifications.

Helicon Basses

King Rotary Valve Symphony Model Orchestra Bass

Small & Medium Size King Eb Basses

King Eb & BBb Monster Basses

Symphony Model Eb, BBb and CC Basses

Sousaphones

 

Production of King Helicon Bass and Monster Bass is thought to have started around 1916-17.  Popular in the day the King Helicon was replaced by the sousaphone.  By 1930 the Helicon was already a rare instrument and it is possible that The H. N. White Company did not make any past that year, but just sold out its inventory.

King Eb: #320...Brass highly polished. #321...Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell.

King BBb: #325...Brass highly polished. #326...Silver plated, satin finish, barnished bell. Extra fourth valve available.

1919 Specifications: BBb

Bell Diameter: 20 Inches

Length: 49 Inches

Weight: 22.5 Ibs.

Width of circle: 30 Inches

1924 Specifications: BBb

Bell Diameter: 22 Inches

Length: 49 Inches

Weight: 20 Ibs.

Width of circle: 31 Inches

 

 

Top Left:  1919 King Catalog

Bottom Left: 1924 King Catalog