Hello, when I was in middle school my band instructor lent me a tuba from the school. Two years later he left and a new instructor came for about a year then I left and went to high school. The new instructor never new I had a tuba (or forgot) and never asked for it back, and I never returned it. There is a six digit number on the second valve that looks like an I.D. I was wondering if I ever sent it in for repair would the number be traced back to the school district (the school has since been closed) and would they consider it theft. Also a moral question would be should I return the tuba to my current band director?

Well, I don't know about the first one. Regarding the second question: if I were You, and I would not have any financial problems, I'd look for a talented but poor student, and give the instrument to Her/Him as present.

Well, the Tuba's not yours . . . . yet. If the school is closed you should contact the scholl district and ask what happened to the instruments in the music department. Ask if they were or are still for sale (this way they don't know you have one yet). Were they transferred to another school, or auctioned off. If they were auctioned off keep it. If they were re-distributed then you should return the Tuba to the school district.