[bandmommy]

:? Hey, I could use a little info/advice. I'm a newbie to SOTW, female, and over 46. My working knowledge of woodwinds is excellent, so you needn't dummy down your replies. I play and teach all woodwinds and a few brass, as well as collect and refurbish antique clarinets.
I picked up a Pan American tenor on ebay for $199. It's got a Martin tube(beveled tone holes),Martin style keywork/wire keyguards, nickle neck(may or may not be original but serial #'s match) in a case that dates to the mid - late 60's. It wasn't playable, so it's in the shop for a complete repad and adjustments. When all is said and done I should have just under $525 into it. (price of horn + repad) If the tech does his job correctly, should this sax be worth the investment? Or should I take another techs advice and unload on a 5th grader and buy a 'real' sax?

 

[bruce bailey]

First off, the Pan-American is a Conn without rolled tone holes and was discontinuted in 1955. If it has the soldered tone holes (youwill see a solder line where the tone hole meets the body) it would be a Martin, Indiana, Courturier or Lyon & Healy. Are the bell (B&Bb) keys on opposite sides or both on the left? What is marked at the serial number area. If it has a 1914 or 1915 patent date, it has drawn tone holes.

 

[Seasax]

pan am was a conn sideline company..
beveled toneholes is an odd feature, but its is probably well worth it.

 

[Jonathan C.]

I have personally played on a Pan Am Tenor. Same age roughly as the one you described. IF you can get all the problems worked out it should be decent to good. The one I played had a nice ful tone, and played great with my S80C**. If you don't like it. I will take it off your hands.

 

[littlemanbighorn]

Or should I take another techs advice and unload on a 5th grader and buy a 'real' sax?

It's worth more than the $525 you'll put into it and should be a great horn with the proper TLC.

 

[bandmommy]

Hey Bruce,
On the Pan American tenor,,, It's in the shop but I refered to photos I'd taken. Here's the poop,,, Left hand bell keys, soldered and beveled tone holes, no patent date near the serial #. Info I failed to mention: Martin style octave mechanism, prior research stating that Pan Americans were stenciled by Martin for Conn. I'm thinking that if it looks like a Martin and plays like a Martin, it is a Martin. I can send photos if you like.

 

[stitch]

prior research stating that Pan Americans were stenciled by Martin for Conn.

Can you tell us where you got this info? Accepted wisdom is that Pan-Am are made by Conn (The company was established in1926 by Carl Greenleaf, Conn chairman, but discontinued in 1928. The brand was revived by Conn in 1937 for instruments 'with wide commercial appeal' [Langwill's]), so it would be very interesting indeed to find models made by another manufacturer.

I'm thinking that if it looks like a Martin and plays like a Martin, it is a Martin. I can send photos if you like.

Absolutely: bevelled, soldered toneholes, Martin style serial number, matching number on neck - sounds like a Martin all right.

 

[LBAjazz]

A music store I used to work at had a Pan American tenor with beveled tone holes and no "Mercedes" key guards. I don't remember what the octave mechanism looked like. I was surprised because all other Pam Ams I have seen were the typical Conn style.

 

[Jonathan C.]

Could you post some pictures for us?

 

[Sax Magic]

Carbs,

The pics of the Pan Am tenor you have in the sale forum from Denton Music look like a Martin stencil to me, also. Find a view of an open tone hole to see the beveled edges.

Sax Magic

 

[bruce bailey]

I DO remember some talk about P-As being built at the Elkhart company. Maybe they bought some bodies.

 

[Dave dix]

As pan am's were 2nd line conn may have farmed the work out when they were too busy
Dave

 

[bandmommy]

Stitch, I got the info from one of the Sax guys online. It was I think at saxquest. I'll Google again and see where I end up.

 

[bandmommy]

Sorry Sax Magic, I thought you were talking to me. I didn't mean to offend. I should put on my bi focals next time.

 

[Jonathan C.]

I do have a Conn Pan American for sale. I am wondering though why people thought that the horn belonged here. I am sorry bandmommy that this discussion about the horn I am trying to sell hijacked your thread.

 

[bandmommy]

For Stitch and others who were wondering where I got my info on Martins wearing the Pan American badge: Go to SaxPics and click on american stencils and second line horns. The same info can be found here on sotw. The dude that has his own page dealing with different makes and models. Check it out.

 

[Doc Frazier]

There were some "Super Pan American" horns made in the late 50's by Martin. I do have some pics in my library. Some have the Mercedes guard, some have the Martin setup. The one I had in my shop about 2 years ago had soldered-on tone holes and Martin linkage and guards. A very heavy horn.

HIS,
Doc

www.JandJWoodwinds.com
[email protected]

 

[bandmommy]

You're right about heavy. This thing is a tank compared to the stuff that kids are playing now. I hope when I pick it up from the shop it's going to be what I hope it is. If any of you want to see pics of it, I have another thread running in the Martin catagory. They're not the best, but you can see what I was trying to describe in my main ?.