[Arundo Donax]

My friend inherited two altos a few years ago. One was a modern alto his father had played; the other was a Conn his grandfather had played professionally. The Conn hasn't been played in many decades.

Today I had a chance to see the Conn alto and was pleasantly surprised: the lacquer was good, only a few very slight dents, some tarnish, pads with resonators didn't look bad. All the key mechanisms worked. The best part: working G# trill and Eb trill keys!

Also were a Brilhart and Selmer Soloist C* mouthpiece, plus other accessories.

See photos below.

I'm interested in identifying the precise model and date of manufacture.

 

[Arundo Donax]

Continuing....

The case is in poor shape, but doesn't smell at all.

 

[saxophender]

1926 New Wonder Series II.

 

[bruce bailey]

They didn't use lacquer at that time so it was done later. The transitionals were several years later but still a good horn. Those mouthpieces together may be worth as much as the horn!

 

[Arundo Donax]

Good information, thank you.

Yes, the lustre and engraving looks good - much better than I had expected.

My friend's son plays (a very new) sax well and loves playing; I'm trying to convey the significance of this Conn to them. Perhaps my fondness for it comes from my interest in the history of the sax and my appreciation of "vintage" saxophones.

 

[rzzzzz]

Good information, thank you.

Yes, the lustre and engraving looks good - much better than I had expected.

My friend's son plays (a very new) sax well and loves playing; I'm trying to convey the significance of this Conn to them. Perhaps my fondness for it comes from my interest in the history of the sax and my appreciation of "vintage" saxophones.

ain't no horn roars like a great old Conn.

 

[click]

http://www.saxpics.com/?v=mod&modID=44

info on transitionals

 

[turf3]

Yes, it's a garden variety New Wonder II, in brass (not going to get into the "was it lacquered from the factory or not?") but will note that the engraving appears sharp and clear. Nothing "transitional" about it.

It's a common instrument, appears to be an excellent example of one of the lower cost varieties (not silver or gold plated). Probably needs new pads, corks, and regulation.

Once this is done, your friend ('s son?) will have a top professional class instrument, less fancy than some, that can hold its own in any setting on earth. Also two high quality mouthpieces that are typical of what would have been used with this instrument, not when it was new of course, but down the road a bit (I think both MPs would date from the early 50s through mid 60s???). Both MPs will match and play superbly with this instrument.

For crying out loud don't let the kid use this thing for marching band!

 

[click]

I have several tenor saxophones, three baritones, and would be happy to collect more of both, if circumstances were different.

But I got a New Wonder II as my first alto, and have had no serious desire to move on from there.

I use a Ponzol and a Sumner on it.

It feels strange, and satisfying, to be happy with a single example of a sax.

I have no explanation why this should be.

My only tentative theory is that I always sounded thin and nasal on other altos (borrowed and temporary).

When I got the Chu, I sounded a lot more like what I thought an alto should sound like.

It might seem as though finding that would stimulate my interest in seeking out other examples.

But instead I just settled down with the Chu.

 

[Arundo Donax]

...
For crying out loud don't let the kid use this thing for marching band!

No worries - my friend's son is in his late 20's, married, kids, a tech job. Sax has been his hobby for quite a while.

Since my friend's father and grandfather loved and played the sax, there is a good case to be made for putting this sax back into playing condition and keeping it in the family. Money isn't a problem for this.

Thank you all for your insight about the sax and accessories.

 

[paulwl]

I suspect the horn started life in silver plate, just from seeing the engraving. Nickel and bare brass Conns only had the company name engraved back then.

The lacquer job typically involved a light buffing to get the silver and sandblasting off the body, but ideally no more than that. Looks like this horn had only that light buffing.

 

[pontius]

I suspect the horn started life in silver plate, just from seeing the engraving. Nickel and bare brass Conns only had the company name engraved back then.

The lacquer job typically involved a light buffing to get the silver and sandblasting off the body, but ideally no more than that. Looks like this horn had only that light buffing.

Why is that? Do you see remnants of silver in the engraving?

 

[paulwl]

I just see that there is engraving. Remember...

Nickel and bare brass Conns only had the company name engraved back then.

 

[pontius]

It surprises me that plating can be buffed off from every nook and cranny and even in the engraving without a huge loss of detail.

 

[paulwl]

I'd like a look around the tone hole chimneys to see if there are hints of blasting remaining. My 1933 Buescher alto was lacquered from silver and it's got those.

 

[Arundo Donax]

Two more photos from when I first saw it; it'll probably be a while before I get a second look.

 

[paulwl]

Arundo, that pic of the low Bb tone hole looks to me to show a hint of sandblasting remaining on the chimney...arguing for my theory that your horn began life in satin silver, as the engraving suggests.

pontius, the reason the engraving isn't very buffed down is simply because it was bright burnished, then masked before the sandblast was done (all before the body headed for the plating tank). It wouldn't have taken nearly so much buffing to remove the silver in bright areas, such as engraving or keywork.

 

[Reet McVouty]

Looks like it's got small resonators too. I don't think they used them back in 26.

 

[turf3]

Yeah, those don't look like 95 year old pads, they look like 30-40 year old pads.

 

[paulwl]

A 1926 horn would have come with white Conn-Foil Vacuum Pads (no resonators, outer ring, lead foil under the skin).

These look like Reso-Pads® with an outer ring (see the sharp edge under the rim?) and would have small disc resonators. The Conn factory or your tech could've installed these at any time, but the buff & lac job suggests factory work.