[zapatista]

https://picclick.com/Vtg-Silver-1921-Martin-Tenor-Saxophone-w-Case-274367941812.html

 

[Grumps]

High pitched C melody. Go for it!

 

[zapatista]

It's actually a Bb not C Tenor (really not trying to introduce another C Melody argument/discussion thread). Not my sales listing/no relation to seller.

 

[Grumps]

It's actually a Bb not C Tenor...

I'm going by the top F tone hole being right at the neck receiver (from the other pics in the listing). Not certain if high pitched tenors had them reach up that far, but C melody saxophones definitely do.

 

[zapatista]

I'm going by the top F tone hole being right at the neck receiver (from the other pics in the listing). Not certain if high pitched tenors had them reach up that far, but C melody saxophones definitely do.

Interesting. My basis for thinking it's a Bb is the direction of the Chromatic F# key that runs along the bow (parallel) and does not wrap around (like every Martin C Melody I'm familiar with) at the tone hole. I own a 18XXX Bb Low Pitch Tenor but mine has pearled keys, no union stamp but a "parallel/straight chromatic F# (like the listed one here).

 

[Grumps]

Just checked around a bit and found this:

https://picclick.com/Conn-New-Wonder-Tenor-Saxophone-SilverPlate-QUINNS-GARAGE-362935385583.html

You'll see the F tone hole definitely goes right up to the neck receiver, and it's a high pitched tenor (though a Conn). So yeah... it just might be a tenor above... though definitely HIGH pitch if it is one.

The horn you show above is interesting though. Seems to have a mix of Buescher parts, like the bow guard. The lyre holder doesn't really scream Martin either.

 

[zapatista]

Just checked around a bit and found this:

https://picclick.com/Conn-New-Wonder-Tenor-Saxophone-SilverPlate-QUINNS-GARAGE-362935385583.html

You'll see the F tone hole definitely goes right up to the neck receiver, and it's a high pitched tenor (though a Conn). So yeah... it just might be a tenor above... though definitely HIGH pitch if it is one.

The horn you show above is interesting though. Seems to have a mix of Buescher parts, like the bow guard. The lyre holder doesn't really scream Martin either.

Yeah, and by 1920-1921 it's really odd to see a Martin that doesn't have pearled keys...I wonder if this was an older body that didn't get serialized until a couple/several years later. Or maybe a Buescher that was engraved Martin (like the 138XXX Baritone Saxophone in a recent thread in the Martin forum)...hmm. Also, the neck (assuming original to the horn) doesn't look like a Martin period neck either.

 

[Bkenes]

Whaaaat?!? :yikes!:
This is interesting.
Why would they do that?

 

[milandro]

because people make mistakes, there are other ones, like the S upside down that I've had in a Selmer S80 alto or the punched numbers with a t B (and even C!!!)at the end (they made two with the same number)

The "B" suffix on this instrument indicates that there are two instruments with the same serial number. The second one is designated as "B" so as not to confuse them.
The interesting thing about the example above is that there are actually three of them.

All three of the saxes with this serial number are Silver Plated Sopranos.
The "original" 9105 (which does not, to my knowledge, have any suffix) had a gold-washed bell interior and was sold to a store in Ludwigshafen, a town in southern Germany.
9105 B was originally sold to Rauber Freres, based in Montreux, Switzerland. They were the swiss distributor for Selmer and later became known as Selmer Montreux.
9105 C had a gold-wash bell, but also had two optional trill keys (Mi and So) It was originally shipped to Frankfurt.

Several years later, when a duplication occurred, the second instrument would be given the suffix "A" in the archives, rather than "B" like this example ... but the suffix was rarely applied to the instrument itself.

 

[Grumps]

because people make mistakes...

It is not a mistake. It is more likely purposeful fraud on the part of whoever stamped that "low" on the horn. If the horn above is a tenor, it ain't low pitch based on where that top F tone hole is located. The only way that horn is low pitched is if it's a C melody.

 

[milandro]

if that is the case that is a particularly LOW ...pitch

 

[Grumps]

The funny thing is that it might have actually been worth more to a collector had whoever marred it not done so.

 

[milandro]

I don’t know many collectors of high pitch Martins.

There is always the possibility to use it in carnatic music.

 

[Grumps]

I don't know many collectors of high pitch Martins.

Have you ever previously seen a high pitched Martin?

 

[milandro]

is it a Martin?

 

[JunkDude]

Forgive the duplicate post if the first one went through...

I saw this horn in person. The seller brought it by the shop and offered it to us. It was too old and he wanted too much for us to be interested. It is a Bb Tenor...not a C-Melody. Before he opened the case, he told me it was from 1921. When I opened the case, I immediately thought it was older than that...probably 1910s based on the union stamp, lack of pearls and early keywork. I was surprised the serial number does dates it to 1920. My guess is that it is a high pitch horn that was actually made earlier than 1920 but then finished in 1920. Most likely, the "LOW" stamp was added later to deceive potential buyers...just a guess. It's an interesting horn, but for us, was not worth the work.

 

[zapatista]

Forgive the duplicate post if the first one went through...

I saw this horn in person. The seller brought it by the shop and offered it to us. It was too old and he wanted too much for us to be interested. It is a Bb Tenor...not a C-Melody. Before he opened the case, he told me it was from 1921. When I opened the case, I immediately thought it was older than that...probably 1910s based on the union stamp, lack of pearls and early keywork. I was surprised the serial number does dates it to 1920. My guess is that it is a high pitch horn that was actually made earlier than 1920 but then finished in 1920. Most likely, the "LOW" stamp was added later to deceive potential buyers...just a guess. It's an interesting horn, but for us, was not worth the work.

Thanks for the background on this one.

 

[Grumps]

is it a Martin?

Yes, that's what's on the bell and it has the union stamp (there are more pictures in the listing for the horn in question). Though it does seem to have some Buescher features. This is the first Martin high pitched horn I think I've ever seen. A true rarity. And that's what could get collectors going... until some idiot stamped "low" on the horn.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

What an odd thing.

 

[zapatista]

What an odd thing.

Interestingly and very curiously odd. Enough that I bid on it, but stopped at about $300 all in.