Elkhart, Indiana
Buescher Band Instrument Company

Nickel-silver plated brass
ca. Early 1900’s
Bell diameter: 22 inches
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Tubas / Sousaphones / Helicons

Engraved on bell:  Buescher

This sousaphone, aka, ‘rain catcher,’ was the first design made by J.W. Pepper, upon the request of John Philip Sousa who was dissatisfied with helicons used by the US Marine Band.  In 1893, Sousa had told J.W. Pepper he wanted the tuba to spread sound over the band, ‘like icing on a cake.’  This upright sousaphone initially developed as a concert instrument rather than for marching, never really gained popularity beyond Sousa’s use.  Instead, the sousaphones with forward-facing bells that was developed in the early 1900s were favored.