Martin Saxophone Serial Numbers
The top portion of the chart assumes that Martin was in business prior to 1910. One estimate started the chart in 1902. Other information suggests that the Martin brothers were working at Conn in 1902. JH Martin Band Instruments was incorporated in 1904, and reorganized as Martin Band Instrument Co. Numbers in italics are estimated. 40 rows.1976 Serial numbers 220 were also used. Dec 29, 2015 (Saxophone) Makes and Models; Martin 'The Martin' Baritone serial numbers, etc. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Last. Jump to page. 'The Martin' Baritone serial numbers, etc. Thanks for that perspective, Bruce. It makes more sense that it would have been custom made with nickel keys, considering it is late in the run of Comm IIIs.
. Buescher Models. Buffet Models. Conn Models. Couesnon Models.
Dolnet Models. Grafton Models.
Holton Models. Keilwerth Models.
King Models. Kohlert Models. Martin Models. Adolphe Sax Models. Selmer Models. SML Models.
Yanagisawa Models. Serial Numbers. SaxPics Info. Links.
School of The Rock Stencil Saxophone Listby Paul D. RaceAs explained in our article explains, “Stencils” are vintage saxophones saxophones that were made by “name brand” companies like Buescher, Martin, and Conn, but labeled for other companies. Usually they had fewer features, less engraving, etc., but at least they were solid compared to offbrand horns.
A Buescher, Martin or Conn stencil that can be restored to playability without major expense will last far longer than, say, the off-brand Chinese-made horns flooding the Internet today. That said, vintage horns are an acquired taste, and their purchase is best left to folks who already play sax well, so you have some idea of what you’re getting into.This page provides a list of 'stencil' names that have been reported, and the manufacturers that have been identified as producing that brand at some point in time. This list had been compilied by consulting several experts and generally authoritive internet sites. It's as complete and correct as I could make it as of January, 2014, but I'm sure that it is neither as complete or as correct as it I would like it to be:.
Some stencils were made (or survived) in such small quantities that they haven't shown up on anyone's radar yet. Some collectors have attributed individual stencil horns to the wrong manufacturer, and the rest of us have no way of proving them wrong any more than we can prove that Bigfoot doesn’t exist.You'll notice that many of the stencil names list multiple providers. That can be due to:. Companies who changed providers every so often, depending on whoever offered the best wholesale cost at a time.
Companies that ordered different kinds of horns from different providers. Stencils whose manufacturers have been misidentified and gone into the 'canon' that way.Keep in mind that stencils usually lacked features that made the name brand versions popular, such as Conn's rolled tone holes, Buescher's Man-in-the-Moon neck brace, high F or F# keys, certain trill keys, fancy engraving, exceptional quality control etc. But if a horn came off the same line as, say a Buescher True-Tone or Conn New Wonder, at least you know it wasn't thrown together in a startup factory somewhere.Note: Most stencils were produced during the “golden age” of home saxophone playing, say 1915-1932. So there is a relatively high proportion of horns - the ultimate home saxophones. But in addition, note that all but a handful of stencils are based on first-generation Low Pitch saxophones, such as the Buescher True-Tone. If you’re looking for a vintage pro or semi-pro American-built horn, such as a Buescher Aristocrat or 400 or Martin Imperial, or Conn New Wonder II or Naked Lady, you will not find a stencil equivalent.
That said, Ragtime, Dixieland, and Swing were invented on first-generation Low Pitch horns, like the Buescher TrueTones and the Conns, Martins, and Kings of the same generation. So those horns and many of their stencil equivalents still have a lot to offer a player looking for a solid, good-sounding horn.Consider this list a starting point. If you see a horn you like with one of the brand names below, and you're wondering if it's really a stencil of Martin, Conn, or Buescher, do some internet research on the comparable horns that the brand name was producing to see if the reported factory even made that horn.Here are some tips that should point you in the right direction:.
Alleged Conn Stencils: If Alto, C Melody, or Tenor saxes has been reported as a 'Conn stencil,' check to see whether the protector over the low C pad has a 'Mercedes-shaped' design. Almost no one else, used that pattern, although it has been observed on at least one Couturier-built sax with Gretsch engraved on the bell (Couturiers have beveled tone holes, though a feature Conn never used).Note: Since I wrote the above, I have come across a purported Conn stencil on eBay that wasn’t built by Conn or Couturier, or anyone I know. It had a Mercedes-shaped low C guard, but nothing else that would indicate that it was built by Conn, Courturier or any other brand I’ve studied.
Again, it might be a fine horn, but false claims like this leave a bad taste in my mouth. Alleged Martin Stencils: Martin used beveled tone holes even on their stencil horns. The relatively skinny edge of the opening made it easier for pads to seat and seal. Very few horns that don’t seem to be Martin have this feature.Exceptions include Couturier saxes, which also may have beveled tone holes. They sometimes have “Gretsch” on the bell since Gretsch began distributing them in 1922.
Alleged King Stencils: King/White keys used a unique “cupped” shape that makes most of their stencils relatively easy to determine at first glance.In addition, many vintage King and King stencil octave keys included a graceful curved mechanism that is seldom seen on other horns. Alleged Buescher Stencils: Buescher lovers can spot a Buescher-built horn from miles away, because they become so familiar with the proportions of the thing. There are also several features, including an off-center octave key mechanism, that seem to be unique to Buescher. But as soon as I decide that some key design is unique to Buescher, I see another, rare, saxophone that includes that feature and is definitely not Buescher. Many internet saxophone “experts” start by ruling out Conn, Martin, and King, then they start comparing photos before th ey’ll settle on Buescher.Every Buescher stencil I’ve seen so far is based on the Buescher True-Tone. All of them lack the triangular True-Tone logo under the thumb hook, and most of them lack the “man-in-the-moon” neck brace (right). If you find a Buescher stencil with this neck brace, it’s likely identical to the True-Tone of the same year.Many Buescher stencils also lack the potentially deadly two-piece bow protecter (right), but even the Buescher stencils have a more distinctive bow protecter than the average saxophone.If you see a vintage horn you like and the vendor is claiming that it is really a stencil of such-and-such brand, he or she may be making it up, misinformed by an 'expert,' or basing the claim on partial knowledge.
In some cases, an erroneous claim is innocuous, such as claiming that a Buescher stencil is really a Conn stencil - both brands made nice stencil horns, so there's no attempt to inflate the value of the horn. In others, the false claim seems to be a deliberate attempt to inflate value - presenting a true off-brand piece of junk as a Buescher stencil, for example.US Stencils: The most common versions of most Conn, Martin, and Buescher vintage saxophones are well represented on the Intenet. If the horn in question is supposed to be a stencil of one of those, Google until you find sites with good examples and a lot of photos, and compare those to the sax in question.
There may be missing features, but the proportions and 95% of the mechanics of the horn will be the same. Again you may discover that the vendor has simply called a Martin stencil a Conn or vice versa. But if the horn you're looking at doesn't look like anything you can find by Conn, Buescher, King, OR Martin, it may just be an off-brand, period.European Stencils: A few European companies, such as Malerne, Keilwerth, and Evette & Schaeffer, made stencil horns that found their way to this continent.
If the brand name of the horn you're looking at cross-references to one of those companies, your research will be a little harder, since far fewer examples have survived. Also a European-made stencil may be harder to find parts for, so look for horns with zero mechanical problems. Vintage Keilwerth and Evette & Schaeffer have relatively good reputations, if that helps.Because the vintage saxophone market is plagued with honest mistakes and deliberate misinformation, you will need to check out the claims of vendors. For example, Selmer did not have a factory in the United States until they bought out Buescher in 1963. Yet I occasionally see a vintage US-made sax being called a Selmer stencil.
Not a chance. (By the way “Selmer New York” horns are stencils, but they’re made by Buescher and reputedly by other companies, not Selmer.)Finally, just knowing that, say, Buescher made a particular model is just a starting point. Even if the stencil horn has every feature you need and most of the advantages of the name brand version, you still have to examine it carefully and determine if it can be made playable without costing more than the thing will ever be worth. Our article on should give you some tips.
The List:Remember - these are based on reports that at least one stencil with the brand names listed below was “tracked down” to the factory or factories listed, not a claim that all stencils of that brand name were made in the same factory, or even that the original report was correct. “Observed” means that I’ve had my hands on a horn or seen detailed photos that convinced me of a stencil’s manufacturer.
The vast majority of these, however, I’ve never seen enough of to make a claim based on personal experience.Each listing is just a starting point, and it’s up to you do to “due diligence” when you’re sorthing things out. Your mileage will vary.Happy hunting!. Acme: Malerne. Abbott Premier: Conn, Martin. Adophe: Selmer (France). Alexandre: Keilwerth. American Artist: Buescher, Conn, Martin.
American Capitol: Buescher. American First: Conn. American Hagar: Conn. American Perfecto: Conn.
American Perfection: Martin. American Premier: Buescher. American Professional: King (H.N. White), Martin. American Scholastic: King (H.N. White). American Standard: King (H.N.
Martin Tenor Saxophone Serial Numbers
White). American Triumph: Buescher, Conn. Armstrong Heritage: Keilwerth. Artist: Buescher.
Martin Saxophone Serial Numbers
Artiste: Malerne. B & H Edgeware: Keilwerth. B & H Fogware: Keilwerth.
Martin Saxophone History
Bandmaster: Conn, Keilwerth, Martin. Beaufort American: Conn, Martin. Bel Canto: Martin. Blessing: Buescher, Martin.
Bruno, Bruno Perfectone: Conn, Buescher, Martin. Buffet: Keilwerth. Buffet Dynaction: Malerne. Bundy: Buescher, Conn, Keilwerth. Bundy Special: Keilwerth. C.J.