[Olaf1]

Do you recognize the saxophone in the photo? I've never seen a neck like this. What is this model?

 

[milandro]

looks like ( from other pictures, see below, where the entire right side of the saxophone is visible) that it is a Selmer BA ( in that case Douglas Pipher may offer some information ) with a TEA KETTLE octave pip

I've also checked the archives (one should always do this!) and you aren't the first to notice this

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?136473-Odd-vintage-selmer-tenor-neck-(charlie-ventura)
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?232933-BA-tenor-with-a-funky-octave-system

we even have a member Patrick 62 with this neck as an Avatar ( non active since 2011)
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/member.php?28602-Patrick62

these aren't unique , I have found a couple of other examples on line

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SELMER-Bal...a-kettle-serial-28969-1939-RARE-/163670744576

https://www.saxophone.org/museum/saxophones/specimen/1513

I have seen the "Tea-Kettle" neck on tenors from just before 20,000 (during the Radio Improved Run) to about 29,500. Timewise, this represents production from roughly December 1934 to Mar 1940.
They seem to appear on about 5% of the Tenors I have seen during this serial number range.

 

[SimonJazzSax]

Yes ... It's a balanced action Selmer with a tea kettle octave pip.

I have the same horn. Plays fantastic!

Sent from my HD1925 using Tapatalk

 

[JohnInDenver]

I saw one of those on Ebay a while back and wondered whether that unusual neck had a positive or negative (or neither) influence on value, but I couldn't tell from how that auction finished. Certainly unusual-looking. I suppose it was meant to have some positive effect on sound or venting?

(I followed the links Milandro sited and there's discussion but no specific answers. There is even speculation that may have been after-market but that seems to have been refuted. Mystery.)

 

[John Laughter]

This might help;

https://rheubenallen.com/2016/01/30/tea-kettle/

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/archive/index.php/t-234273.html

 

[JohnInDenver]

This might help;

https://rheubenallen.com/2016/01/30/tea-kettle/

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/archive/index.php/t-234273.html

Thanks John that info certainly answered my questions! And this quote from Jason Dumars made me chuckle:

"It reminded me of the "Opti-Grab" in the movie, The Jerk. Long term use of one of those might lead to permanent ocular damage! "

 

[Olaf1]

Thank you for all explanations. All is clear now!

 

[John Laughter]

Hey welcome. Glad I found some info. I had never heard of it or seen a photo.