Sax on the Web Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Leblanc Sax Serial Number Registry

Tags
leblanc serial number
2 reading
Jump to Latest
181 - 200 of 430 Posts
#181 ·
No doesn't appear to have any referenced zip code- although it has a Leblanc retail price list booklet that was in the case dated effective December 31, 1974 so it appears as if the horn was definitely a 1975 Paris model.
 
Discussion starter · #182 ·
a picture of the sax section of price list book would be appreciated as well.

This is actually a continuation of an earlier discussion in which a registration card did have a zip code. And somebody... I forget who stated that "Zip codes were officially started on July 1, 1963" So lacking a zip code in the return address of the registration card probably indicates that card was printed much earlier then 1975. The price list could have been added latter. The sax could have been in the inventory of a music store for a number of years before it was sold.

Edit: That would be post #147 by
SaxSanDiego
 
#183 ·
The original pricing sheet was written on circling the Leblanc Paris model 100.

Looking at that post number I think you may be right, this may have been from an older year. The card has no mention of zip code on here, it just lists city, state for the information section.
 

Attachments

Discussion starter · #184 ·
DoctoRx, thanks... this is very interesting ... the registration card does reference a zip code (G. Leblanc Corporation, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53104) So 1975 is not out of the question but certainly no earlier then 1962 or 1963 I don't know when the US Post Office started promoting serial numbers. The price list is loaded with information about available model numbers for Leblanc, Vito, Noblet (no saxophones but other instruments) and Martin Saxophones???

Edit: this is the type of info I was hoping would turn up from starting this thread!
 
#185 ·
Yes I was going to say that- It only let me upload 5 photos but I had a 6th that was a close up of the Kenosha, Wisconsin address. In terms of available models I see Leblanc, Normandy, Noblet, Vito, Martin, Holton, and Courtois I believe.

Edit: there is also some sort of little booklet that says congratulations on your purchase with a company background on it also.
 
#188 ·
Sure no problem would love to help out. Just the sax section or would you guys like the entire booklet scanned? The entire thing may take a little while as I typically do most of my scanning in the between time at work. Shouldn't take me too long though maybe I'll be able to get that taken care of at the end of the day tomorrow. I'm glad to have stumbled upon this little deal- the original owner seemed to shrug it off as just another piece of clutter in his garage, but when I was looking up info on this particular horn I saw many reviews saying how nice these sounded so I had to take the chance to get my hands on it. I would like a tenor at some point also, just need to get the extra time and money to devote to playing.
 
Discussion starter · #190 ·
i understand.. DoctoRx ... I have a book "The Saxophone" by Don McCarthren published in 1954, 2nd edition 1956, the one I have... it is 32 pages long. But it has a couple of sections that are very relevant to Leblanc System saxophones. I have been meaning to make pdf's of these sections but haven't gotten around to it. So you work on yours, I will work on mine... Leblanc Book 1 and Leblanc Book 2 Sorry about the images being upside down. But this is just a tease.
 
Discussion starter · #191 ·
if you compare the english 1974 price list to the DoctoRx's 1975 price list....

1974 in England only 2 models of Saxophone are listed the Model 100 and 120.

1974:

model 100 Eb Alto Saxophone, Revolutionary System. Lacquered for 354.64 Pounds (english curancy) $829.86 converted to US using a 1974 curency converter
model 120 Eb Tenor Saxophone, Revolutionary System. Lacquered for 427.96 Pounds or $1001.43

1975:

100 Alto, Leblanc (Paris) System Brass Lacquer for $950.00
120 Tenor, leblanc (Paris) System Brass Lacquer for $1000.00

Vito:
9135 Alto, Leblanc (Paris) System Brass Lacquer for $730.00
9140 Alto, Silver Inlaid, Leblanc (Paris) System for $895.00
9138 Alto, Artists for $795.00

A 1974 $1000.00 Saxophone would sell for $4370.00 in 2010 adjusted for inflation.

Note that the Vito Artist Alto is priced Higher then what we call a model 35.
 
#193 ·
FremontSax said:
if you compare the english 1974 price list to the DoctoRx's 1975 price list....

1974 in England only 2 models of Saxophone are listed the Model 100 and 120.

1974:
model 100 Eb Alto Saxophone, Revolutionary System. Lacquered for 354.64 Pounds (english curancy) $829.86 converted to US using a 1974 curency converter
model 120 Eb Tenor Saxophone, Revolutionary System. Lacquered for 427.96 Pounds or $1001.43

1975:

100 Alto, Leblanc (Paris) System Brass Lacquer for $950.00
120 Tenor, leblanc (Paris) System Brass Lacquer for $1000.00

A 1974 $1000.00 Saxophone would sell for $4370.00 in 2010 adjusted for inflation.
Click to expand...
You'll have to excuse my ignorance a bit here since it's been quite some time since I've been in the music world. :baby: Is there a difference between the 74 and the 75? I saw the '74 PDF from England that had it listed as the Revolutionary and then mine with the '75 Model 100. I'm assuming they just use different names in different countries (I know this is the same for cars etc etc.). If that's the case I'm glad the guy I bought this from didn't know they could potentially be worth $4K or he wouldn't have given it to me at the steal of a price I got it.:blob:

Side note- I also saw a 1970 Mark IV for that same price (about $4300) when I picked mine up. I'm pretty sure I remember hearing these horns were made to compete with the Mark VI (someone can correct me if I'm wrong). Wish I had the cash for both to compare the two.
 
Discussion starter · #194 ·
There is no difference between a 1974 and a 1975.

today the going price for a nice model 100 seems to around $1000.

These saxophones are rare and well liked by a small group of sax enthusiasts.

Estimates of the numbers made (combined 100 and 120) range from a high of 1500 to my guess of 750. These were made from the early 1950s to about 1975. So we are talking a production of 30 to 60 a year.

I believe that these were much more expensive then the Selmar MK VI of which over 100,000 were made.
 
#195 ·
Still not too bad of a deal, I managed to get my hands on mine for $500. So far I love it but I need a bit more practice before I can give this horn any sort of justice. I'm glad to see that I was able to get my hands on such a rare find. My old bari sax was a Mark VI and was a dream to play on when I played in an old private jazz ensemble. Unfortunately, most of the others I played with had student horns and I often got them in trouble because I played with much more volume than they could muster up during shout sections. By far my favorite horn is the Bari to play on, but I'd like to have one of each to my collection in years to come.
 
#198 ·
Interesting. In your price list (and thanks for scanning them), there were three different Vito baritones. The 7131BA must have been a student model because it was lower priced than the 9138 which did not have low A. The 91388A did. Were these all built by Beaugnier?
 
#199 ·
Not sure, since I'm not familiar with much of the history. I actually just happened to stumble across this horn. My V16's came in today so I was finally able to test it out on an old Guy Hawkins mouthpiece. The sound quality is gorgeous, though I don't do it much justice in skill.
 
#200 ·
It doesn't look like this horn's previous SOTW owner "registered" it:

Vito Alto Face Model (Face on Bell Brace), Right Side Bell Keys, Brass Colored Keys
After some tweaking...a player! 99xx "Made in France" No Other markings except "Vito"
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
181 - 200 of 430 Posts
About this Discussion
429 Replies
88 Participants
Last post:
MTKilpatrick
Sax on the Web Forum
posts
3.4M
members
83K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to saxophone players and enthusiasts originally founded by Harri Rautiainen. Come join the discussion about collections, care, displays, models, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Word games Misc. Saxophone Discussion Sax Repair, Maintenance and Modification Tenor mpc General Mouthpiece Discussion