This bass ophicleide, nominal pitch 8-foot C, has eleven keys and was made by Henry SMITH workshop. It now has eight keys at the front and three at the rear. We think it dates to around 1840. The workshop was based in Wolverhampton, England.

When it came to us, this ophicleide, a rare, nineteenth-century predecessor to the tuba, was in a very sorry state, with years of damage and a missing key.

A master brass instrument maker based in Germany took on the difficult project to restore the ophicleide to its former glory. It was no easy task and took countless hours of precision work. A new key was made and its new leather pads were specially made for this instrument. The hand rests were replaced and the whole instrument was fully cleaned and lovingly polished to remove decades of tarnish.

In 2023, this marvellous restoration project reached its successful completion. The German master brass instrument maker documented the entire process with photographs, capturing every step of the instrument’s transformation. When the ophicleide was finished, this complete photo record was delivered along with the instrument. It serves as a beautiful visual diary of the patience and skill needed to revive a piece of history. We wish its new owner hours of beautiful music and joy.