[tcurry]

Hello All,
I have been lurking (never posting) on this site for 6 or so months now and find it very useful looking history and opinions on vintage saxes of which I have a few (1917 Conn Bari [itching to reassemble], 1925 Silver Martin Handcraft Alto [in pristine condition], 1954 Martin Indiana [Daily Driver] and a not so old (1982) King 615 tenor.

I figure this question is a long shot but here goes anyway.
I have recently aquired a freebee Caravelle Soprano AKA Borgani Macerata that is missing the entire low Bb key and lower post. Would anyone here happen to know how to go about finding one?

Thanks in advance.

 

[turf3]

Probably an experienced tech will have in the junk pile some parts that can be adapted.

 

[Basssax01]

I had a 1917 Conn bari I picked at a used typewriter shop for $50 when I was 19 (45 years ago). It had "USN" etched below the serial number - obviously a navy horn.I used it as a second horn to march with in college band. It was sort of a pea shooter compared to my relatively new SDA bari. I sold it several years after I graduated for a couple hundred bucks. I'd love to have that horn now. The foolishness of youth.

 

[tcurry]

I picked my Bari up a few months ago for $30 off of Craigslist. It was all in pieces and the guy thought it was a tenor and had spray painted it a flat gold. I told him it was a bari and he had no idea what that was. I got it home and put it together to make sure it had all its parts and it did minus a few springs. I took it back apart then took the body to a local shop owned by a friend to have it straightened a bit after removing the horrid gold paint. Found nice silver plating and USQMC (United States Quarter Master Corp) engraved on the bell. I'm ready to put it all back together but the shop I took it too needed an excuse to purchase an extra large mandrel but the vendor he purchased it from shut down from Covid before shipping it.
I too was a foolish youth. I sold my early Yanagasawa Bari to buy a motor cycle after collage.

Now I have a soprano with no Bb. luckily it was free.

Stay healthy

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

I had a 1917 Conn bari I picked at a used typewriter shop for $50 when I was 19 (45 years ago). It had "USN" etched below the serial number - obviously a navy horn.I used it as a second horn to march with in college band. It was sort of a pea shooter compared to my relatively new SDA bari. I sold it several years after I graduated for a couple hundred bucks. I'd love to have that horn now. The foolishness of youth.

I've played one of those exact horns. It was a 1917 Conn bari. But this one I think came from use at West Point as it had a military stamp on it and I know the owner went there. What a great sound, but you needed a big chamber mouthpiece to play in tune. I'll bet yours only went to high Eb too.

 

[tcurry]

Yep. No F and no spit valve on the bari. Came with a Conn mouthpiece that appears to be original.

 

[AddictedToSax]

There are some techs out there who can fabricate a key for you. I have an early 13 key clarinet in the key of A that is in the shop. The tech is going to make the left hand pinky key and a low G# key whenever he can get back to his shop. Not everyone does it but there are a few out there with the skills it won’t come cheap. I think he’s charging me $500 just for the two keys.

 

[Dr G]

If I had such a freebie sop, I wouldn’t worry about the low Bb key. If it were something that affected the full range of the horn, it would be a different matter. Play it as-is for a while to see if it is worth the effort and expense of the restoration.

 

[tcurry]

Once I get a mouthpiece for it I will mess around as is. But I not looking to sink much money into it unless it plays like melted butter. I have cleaned and lubed it up plus replaced a few pads to take care of the leaks. Never played a sop before so it may take some getting use to.

 

[milandro]

good luck with it, these old Borganis aren't worth a lot of money and even less so missing keys, frankly speaking unless you find a fittig donor for little money or for free it is probably not worth paying the money that It would cost to adapt it.

https://reverb.com/item/30792133-caravelle-brittany-soprano-saxophone

 

[tcurry]

Thanks all.
I think I going to hone my skills at refinishing using this horn and see if I can make it look brand new just for the fun of it.