[billthepill]

I very recently picked up a 1946 6M (alto) with rolled tone holes. Rather than having a naked lady on the front, it has no engraving at all. It's a really wonderful horn. What confuses me is the information on the serial number.

Below the 6M and above the serial number is the capital letter E. I have never seen this before and was wondering if anybody knew what this designation meant. There is an L below the serial number denoting low pitch.

Any ideas? "E" for engraving? I've seen specialty engravings for military bands, but not for the MOST naked lady ever.

 

[turf3]

Stands for Eb.

Sometimes they had "B" or "E" for key, sometimes "B" "T" or "A".

 

[SimonJazzSax]

The E became the designation for Alto saxes from Conn. Tenors stayed with a T. Altos were originally an A.

 

[bruce bailey]

The change from A to E occured around the mid 40s, after the war.

 

[Mike T]

Yes, "E" for "Eb". But the interesting thing about this horn is the missing Ladyface engraving. I know that in the early 1930s the odd horn escaped its tattooing, but by 1946 ALL Conn saxes were being engraved. So what happened here ? Did it really just miss out on its engraving, or is it a relacq that was so heavily buffed that the engraving got worn away ?

 

[pontius]

I very recently picked up a 1946 6M (alto) with rolled tone holes. Rather than having a naked lady on the front, it has no engraving at all. It's a really wonderful horn. What confuses me is the information on the serial number.

Below the 6M and above the serial number is the capital letter E. I have never seen this before and was wondering if anybody knew what this designation meant. There is an L below the serial number denoting low pitch.

Any ideas? "E" for engraving? I've seen specialty engravings for military bands, but not for the MOST naked lady ever.

Can you post some more pictures? Some of us would like to see the bell I am sure.