[Douglas Pipher]

Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

This study is my attempt to learn more about the three models of the Selmer 22 series:
Serie 22
Modele 1922
Modele 22

If anyone is willing to share information and/or photos of their 22 Series Selmer, I would be greatly appreciative.

I am looking for the following information:

Full Serial Number:
Model Name: (Serie 1922, Modele 1922 or Modele 22)
Type: (Alto, Tenor etc)
Finish: (Silver, Gold, Lacquer, 2Tone etc)
Distributor Stamp: Most examples have none, but I have seen Toronto, Montreux and others stamped on the bell, below the serial number)
Extra keys: (I have only seen one example with extra trill keys so far)

I do NOT need to know where the instrument is located, or who owns it.

Thanks to everyone willing to help.
Douglas Pipher
Toronto, Canada

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Based on my current research of the 22 Series, below is some info on each of the three models.

Série 1922:
Observed Production Span: #764 to #1128
Observed Examples: 61
Total Production Size: roughly 400
Observations as percentage of Production: 15.2%

Examples by Type:
Bb Soprano (straight): 4
Bb Soprano (curved): 3
Alto: 37
C Tenor: 7
Bb Tenor: 4
Baritone: 2
No observed Sopranino, C Soprano or Bass examples

(updated Apr 15, 2022)

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Modele 1922:
Observed Production Span: #749, then #1143 to #1160 Altos, then #1220 Baritone
Observed Examples: 5
Production Size: estimated at less than 50.

Examples by Type:
Alto: 5
Baritone: 1

(updated Apr 17, 2022)

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Modele 22:
Observed Production Span: #1126 to #4804
Observed Examples: 397
Total Production Size: approx. 3,400
Observations as percentage of Production: 11.6%

Examples by Type:
Sopranino: 1
C Soprano: 5
Bb Soprano (straight): 63
Bb Soprano (curved): 10
Alto: 252
C Tenor: 36
Bb Tenor: 21
Baritone: 6
Bass: 3

(Updated Apr 17, 2022)

 

[Oric Muso]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Modele 22 usually has the odd front (side) Bb keywork rather than having the side key. I have seen some with the usual side Bb.

My alto is silver plate. serial 2639

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Thanks Oric!
Yes, the side Bb tonehole starts to appear on the Altos around #3700. (between 3697 and 3729 to be more specific)

I have added your Alto to the summary above.

 

[Bones]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Modele 22 alto #2754 Original gold plate. Originally owned by Rudy Vallee and engraved with his name in script. I purchased it from a granddaughter of a member of Rudy's band. Rudy was given a new Selmer Modele 26 by Selmer, so he gave his Modele 22 to his bandmate. Beautiful engraving, including over the key guard posts. Gorgeous full tone. Original case and mouthpiece.

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Thanks Bones! That sounds like a very cool instrument. If you ever wanted to share some photos, I'd love to see them. (I've updated Post #4 above to include your Alto)

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

A note on the Série 1922 & Modele 1922 summaries above.
After a close inspection of some photos of #906 (which had been incorrectly identified as a Modele 1922) it appears that it is in fact a Série 1922. I have adjusted post #2 and #3 accordingly.
This substantially shortens the observed serial number range of the Modele 1922 to less that 100 numbers.
It also removes the serial number overlap between the Série 1922 and the Modele 1922.
Interestingly, #906 and #907 Série 1922 altos are both low B instruments (whereas the Série 1922 examples before and after them are low Bb horns)

 

[Brenton]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

At least three Modele 22 Altos have just popped up on the bay: s/n 1322, 1580 and 2226.

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Thanks Brenton ... I will check them out to see if I already have them on my list.
Cheers, Douglas

 

[TrueTone]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Could I see some photos of Valee's Sax also? Just post them on the thread for everyone.
Thanks.

 

[Oric Muso]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

On Ebay.co.uk there is a silver plated tenor Modele 22 serial 1560 and a alto serial 2226 which appears to be gold plated (?) finish looks a bit odd.

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Thank Oric.
Strangely, I can't seem to locate the auction for #1560. (any chance you can provide a link?)

The Alto, #2226, is already in my database. The finish looks to me to be silver plate, photographed in some really warm yellow lighting. (The closeup shots look silver, whereas the overall shots look more gold.) This horn has been for sale for quite some time.

 

[Oric Muso]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-H...219?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a4af1f6b

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Thanks Oric. I didn't have that one.
Oh ... that instrument is a C-Melody, not a Tenor as listed.
(I have updated Post #4 above to include this instrument)

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Another Série 1922 Alto located in England. Post #2 above has been updated.
This Série 1922 appears to be a Selmer-produced horn.

There are two examples (#906 and #907) which are clearly not Selmer-produced but are still labelled as Série 1922.
All other observed examples (so far) appear to be Selmer-produced.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Finish: (Silver, Gold, Lacquer, 2Tone etc)

Were there ever any lacquer models? I had always assumed lacquer wasn't used on any saxophone in the early 20s.

I'd love to help with the survey having proudly owned alto, tenor and baritone 22s, but no longer have them and didn't pay much attention to the stamping.

 

[Oric Muso]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Oh ... that instrument is a C-Melody, not a Tenor as listed.
(I have updated Post #4 above to include this instrument)

I wondered if it was. The bell looked a long way up the body.

Good question Pete. I've seen several lacquered modele 26 so unless they've been relacquered I think it came in with those. I think it was 1934 when Conn started using lacquer.

 

[Douglas Pipher]

Re: Selmer Série 1922 / Modele 22 - an ongoing study

Were there ever any lacquer models? I had always assumed lacquer wasn't used on any saxophone in the early 20s.=

Pete ... there certainly are lacquered Modele 22 horns today, but based on my research to date, Selmer Paris did not start lacquering saxes until May 1932, (at around 16k) so any currently lacquered Modele 22's would not be original.
The only original finishes I have seen on the earliest Selmers are Bare Brass, Gold Plate, Nickel Plate or one of several varieties of Silver Plate.

(My note about lacquer finishes in post #1 refers to the current finish on the horn)