[zapatista]

Two similar vintage (1930-1931) Martin Alto saxophones for sale recently or currently both stating being gold plated.

Troubadour:
https://reverb.com/item/30637502-martin-handcraft-troubadour-low-pitch-gold-plate-alto-sax

SN: 103351

or

Typewriter:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1930-Marti...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

SN: 100751

To me the Troubadour (still available) could be lacquer or gold plate. Lacquer over the gold plate?

The Typewriter looks to be genuinely silky gold plate. EDITED/ADDED Or not per posts from Airflyte and Bruce Bailey (thanks!)...very interesting. Two "gold plated" saxophones that very likely aren't gold plated.

Any opinions?

 

[zapatista]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

Interestingly the engraving on the Troubadour linked above is different than the following one on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Martin-Tro...a=0&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

SN 102571

 

[Airflyte]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

Reverb Troubadour looks like lacquer.

Stop posting these:Rant: I have one already but not as nice as these! And that typewriter was almost cheap!

Hmmn, that ebay horn looked like gold paint - weird. Like a gold Bundy One.

 

[Airflyte]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

Interestingly the engraving on the Troubadour linked above is different than the following one on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Martin-Tro...a=0&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

SN 102571

Neck might have had some pull down repair on this one?

I don't see a lyre holder either . . . . should be visible from the photo angle.

 

[bruce bailey]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

I assume Telegraph means Typewriter. That Typewriter looks to be a gold paint as mentioned. I have never seen a gold plated Martin with silver or nickel keys. Here is what a real gold plated typewriter looks like:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/tags/altotypegold/

 

[zapatista]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

I assume Telegraph means Typewriter. That Typewriter looks to be a gold paint as mentioned. I have never seen a gold plated Martin with silver or nickel keys. Here is what a real gold plated typewriter looks like:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/tags/altotypegold/

Correct...don't know what the hell I was thinking regarding the name.

Engraving looks more detailed than a regular typewriter/master...weird:

Also, the neck tenon screw/lyre post was moved/changed for a left-handed player and then relacquered? Looks like there's an impression of where the lyre post was originally placed. Also, not sure what is going on with the neck not sitting fully flush with the neck receiver/tenon (thanks!):

 

[StuartSax]

Couple of things, zap.

Martin seems all over the place with engraving in the 20s. My matte gold tenor is rather plainly engraved while others were very elaborate. And I don't think the receiver was moved. It's in the same left handed location as my tenor.

 

[Gulo gulo]

Two similar vintage (1930-1931) Martin Alto saxophones for sale recently or currently both stating being gold plated.

The Typewriter looks to be genuinely silky gold plate. EDITED/ADDED Or not per posts from Airflyte and Bruce Bailey (thanks!)...very interesting. Two "gold plated" saxophones that very likely aren't gold plated.

Any opinions?

I own and play a gold-plated Martin typewriter alto (with original plating obviously), it has a different colour and the keys are gold-plated as well. And the engraving is indeed different; the upper part is somewhat similar but as far as I can tell, mine might have more small details, the under part has a detailed flowery design on mine. Can this have been re-plated/engraved?

 

[zapatista]

I own and play a gold-plated Martin typewriter alto (with original plating obviously), it has a different colour and the keys are gold-plated as well. And the engraving is indeed different; the upper part is somewhat similar but as far as I can tell, mine might have more small details, the under part has a detailed flowery design on mine. Can this have been re-plated/engraved?

The alto is 90 years old...many things could have happened. I'll have it in my possession pretty soon and follow up. I have a couple Martin Tenors which are really nice and bought this one as a fairly cheap, decent looking horn to play around with (and maybe sell down the line)-plus just really want to try out the keywork. I'm honestly not sure if it is non original lacquer (very very likely) or plating on the body.

Appreciate all the feedback on this thread/horn.

 

[bruce bailey]

I still say that the ebay horn is painted over satin silver.

 

[zapatista]

I still say that the ebay horn is painted over satin silver.

Agreed. This thread has been a good/quick education on the Typewriter/Hand Crafts. I hope it plays as nicely as the Handcraft Deluxe Tenor I posted about in another thread recently without too many adjustments.

 

[Gulo gulo]

The alto is 90 years old...many things could have happened. I'll have it in my possession pretty soon and follow up. I have a couple Martin Tenors which are really nice and bought this one as a fairly cheap, decent looking horn to play around with (and maybe sell down the line)-plus just really want to try out the keywork. I'm honestly not sure if it is non original lacquer (very very likely) or plating on the body.

Appreciate all the feedback on this thread/horn.

True, but mine - before I got my paws on it - probably spent most of its life inside the case, unplayed. Looking at other typewriters, this seems true for many of them (few scratches on the ones that seems to have original plating, etc.).

Most people dislike the keywork. I personally love it, but it was the saxophone I started learning on and my teacher made sure I practiced the inconvenient notes and changes a lot (like lots of low c-e flat and b-b flat trills and tremolos). I am curious how you will like it and if it is plated or something else. I hope you will let us know.

 

[zapatista]

To all the Gold-Plated Naysayers and Internet Martin "Experts":

The Horn plays pretty well and I don't find the key work objectionable Just to add, I really do appreciate everyone's feedback and experience. Just wanted to have a little fun with the horn/thread upon receipt of the horn.

 

[Gulo gulo]

It looks great and it is good to hear you don't hate the keywork. Enjoy the adventure!

 

[zapatista]

It looks great and it is good to hear you don't hate the keywork. Enjoy the adventure!

Thanks! I was expecting some real issues with the key work but really no problems when dorking around with the horn for about an hour last night. I think it helps not to play incredibly demanding/rapid stuff (especially when I can't anyways). It needs a CLA done as the few keys I took off to spot check aren't particularly dirty but there is little to no lubricant left on any of them and this can be felt in the action (not a slick feel).

So, I'll post some pics after tearing into the horn a little bit. The finish really is a matte gold plasti-dip (acrylic/plastic spray on) type material and I'm sure that it was done to cover up some soldering or prior finish issues. They actually did a pretty good job applying the plasti-dip as I've worked with it before on alloy wheels. It is very easy to screw up/have runs and I only found one or two very minor ones on the horn. Also, the bow guard clearly is not original in color or shape. I guess I could have done that research before purchase, but it is a decent playing horn.

 

[Gulo gulo]

So, I'll post some pics after tearing into the horn a little bit. The finish really is a matte gold plasti-dip (acrylic/plastic spray on) type material and I'm sure that it was done to cover up some soldering or prior finish issues. They actually did a pretty good job applying the plasti-dip as I've worked with it before on alloy wheels. It is very easy to screw up/have runs and I only found one or two very minor ones on the horn. Also, the bow guard clearly is not original in color or shape. I guess I could have done that research before purchase, but it is a decent playing horn.

Looking forward to the pictures! Mine also has two very ugly solder jobs so your explanation sounds very logical and the plasti-dip explains why the colour is different from mine. In any case, I am really happy that another typewriter is being out of its box and appreciated.

 

[Hornlip]

[ snip ] The Horn plays pretty well and I don't find the key work objectionable Just to add, I really do appreciate everyone's feedback and experience. Just wanted to have a little fun with the horn/thread upon receipt of the horn.

I had a tenor typewriter for a while, bought it off eBay just out of curiosity, & it was much more ergonomically friendly than I expected. Really it's the G# cluster you look at and think "hmm", but the way it was put together & pearls mounted it wasn't any more difficult to move around on than a lot of other horns from the era. You could slide between the low C and Eb no problem. And it didn't really matter that the touch on the palm keys was round. Sounded famous but really needed an overhaul & I had other horns that were a priority, so I sold it without ever being able to play it at its full potential.

 

[Arundo Donax]

Re: Battle of the 1930-1931 "Gold Plate" Martin Handcraft Altos: Troubadour vs. Telegraph

... Here is what a real gold plated typewriter looks like:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/tags/altotypegold/

Good Lord, that's astonishing!

 

[zapatista]

Well, I'm happy to say that underneath the fake gold is real gold plate:

However the keys are still nickel and getting rid of the Plasti Dip shows 3-4 posts that have been re-soldered, silver plate exposed on some the body (where the original gold plate has worn off) and flashing around the bow guard that has been replaced.
So it's a nice Gold-Plated, Nickel-Keyed Frankenwriter that plays pretty well!

 

[Airflyte]

Well, you didn't waste any time on this one! Looks waaaay better with out the spray can treatment. Imperfections add some character to the story that will "typed" out.