'Martin Handcraft'1931 Vintagebronze lacquer, late model. Good player 1931, s/no 104xxx - literally the last ofthe C-Melody line, lovely !! I don't have a good enoughcamera to capture the real dark vintage lacquer colour - it'sgorgeous. Modernaction, gone are the quirky vintage forked Eb and G# trillkeys. High palm keys all sensibly long - no more 'button' palm keys. Add to that the essential auxiliaryFront-F mechanism, and you have a C-Melody and this is a delight toplay. Intonation is extremely good - a solid powerful hornwith well preserved Martin case andaccessories. NOT FORSALE | <<< My Favourites ! >>> ( and I've just acquired ) v v ***** Coming shortly - more pics ofmy vintage lacquer King C-Mel, with front-F,naturally.... ***** | Lyon & Healy 'Inspiration' Butel software crack. ( King stencil - relatively rare) Iaffectionately call her 'Big Ugly'. Verymuch a project and a half.... Quite a rare beast this one,I've only seen one other for sale. After Lyon & Healystopped making their own C-Mels - based around Martin design/tooling -they had stencils mostly made by Buescher. This is the moreelusive King stencil, with classic King domed cups, and, moreimportantly, the auxiliary Front-F mechanism - a rare find on stencilhorns. The silver plating is almost completely worn orabraded from the body, but some remains on the keys - giving a two-toneappearance. A real workhorse. A current project, at themoment, regrettably NOT FOR SALE. |
Age: Using the serial number, determine its age with the harp builder. Older isn't necessarily. Jul 13, 2011 - The body has the fin on the bottom of the bell. This is a poor picture of what i own. It has a lyon healy engraving on the bell that is a very simple floralish pattern. The serial number is 12909 which i also could not find any. The record is much less complete after 1936. Instruments manufactured after 1936 range in serial number from 1350-3600. The log book shows the serial numbers jumping around quite a bit for the Selmer/Adolphe Sax saxophones. Even so, its possible from this record to assemble a basic serial number chart for these instruments.
The aimof this page is to (hopefully) help you to identify the manufacturer,and even possibly the'build year' of your C-Melody. I know you could look on thebell andsay 'Ah - Martin', but sadly that doesn't apply tostencils. So, thetable on the right will have links to a pages showing a selection ofC-Melodysaxes, some I've owned, some I still do, and with the mechanism anddesign features of each manufacturer - the pictures are quite goodresolution,and unprotected, so can be copied and pasted into a suitable graphicspackagefor better viewing, e.g. zooming. Please feel free to dothis, but if youre-use the pictures in any other context, please ask me first, and I'dalso appreciatea mention of this site.
Ratherthan put 'return' links on each page, I've either opened some in a newwindow,or others require the use of your browser 'back arrow' to get back tothis page. It will take awhile to findexamples showing all the differences, and I hope to be able to make a'truth table'as well, for quick checking and identification. Until then,please followthis link to my Q&A page,and check out the excellent pages by Saxpics, Dr Rick, and Cybersax, toidentifywhich manufacturer built your stencil.
Sadly, e.g., allMartin stencils don't haveall the standard Martin features etc. etc. And, some Stencilnames appearon saxes from more than one manufacturer ! Fun, isn't it ? I'm stilllearning a few things myself in the process. A far fromcomprehensive listof Stencil names is at the end of the page- link is on the table opposite - andI'll also set up a gallery of pictures of C-Melody saxes I've owned inthe past,as examples of most manufacturers art. The vast majority ofthe pictureswere taken by (and owned by) me, but, if I've inadvertently usedsomeone else'sexample, I sincerely apologise - drop me an email and I'll eithercredit you, orif you so wish I'll remove the picture.
Below are short lists of serialnumbers for the years ( mostly up to the thirties ) that C-Melody saxeswere produced 'inquantity'. I thought itwould be useful to have them for all the C-Melody manufacturerstogether in oneplace (and in alphabetical order, not preference..). Linksto pages with more comprehensive serial number listings, and furthermodel info, areincluded with each list, as are references to the origins of thedata. I'd just like to say a great big' Thanks ! ' to anyone involved in compiling and/or publishing thoselists - very muchappreciated !!
Please notethat C-Melody 'stencil'serial numbers don't usually correspond with therelevant manufacturers 'own brand name' sequences - there are sometheories asto how you can work the date out, but I'm afraid the answer is usuallyjust ' made in the 1920's.. '
Also be awarethat the serial numbers below weren't just for C-Melody saxes, eachinstrumentproduced was assigned a sequential unique number, so (for example) inJan-1924, 60993 couldhave been a Tenor Sax, 60994 a C-Mel, 60995 a Soprano, etc. etc. - atleastthat's how I understand it ? Thinking about that, it'sprobably morelogical that the numbers were assigned in 'blocks' to maybe a groupC-Mel's,then alto's etc. for a certain production run. Each group of bodiescould thenbe stamped sequentially. Anybody out there know how it really was?
So anyway, you should also beable to use these lists to date some of the vintage saxes of thatperiod.
A C-Sax may be available for purchase -emailme | quickstencil identification(coming.. ) | |
| Buescher (below) | Conn (below) | Martin (below) |
'23 Two-Tone'27GOLD | Conn(straight/alto style neck) | '20's The Martin |
| '25 -lacquer / amber rollers | Conn(curved/tenor style neck) | '30's Martin Handcraft |
another '25 - beautiful Bare Brass ! | MasterbiltPan American | Horace-Martin stencil |
and a*'25/26 in Silver Plate | King (below) | |
DitsonLyon& Healy | King | |
| King Stencil | ||
| . | ||
| Couesnon < new 2008 | Evette&Schaeffer ( Buffet Crampon ) | Hawkesand Son< new 2008 |
| Holton | Kohlert | |
| Holton - Wiedoeft model | Oscar- Adler | Selmer Modele 22 |
| Thibouville-Lamy | Selmer BA | |
| York | Vito | Weril (Brazil ) |
*= sax may be available for purchase -emailme |
| Buescher |
'23 Two-Tone'27GOLD |
'25 -lacquer / amber rollers |
another '25 - beautiful Bare Brass ! |
and a*'25/26 in Silver Plate |
Ditson<> Lyon& Healy |
*Lyon &Healy'AmericanProfessional' |
| Conn |
Conn(straight/alto neck)Conn(curved/tenor neck) |
Masterbilt<>Pan American |
Couesnon < new 2008 |
*Evette&Schaeffer ( Buffet Crampon ) |
Hawkesand Son< new 2008 |
Holton Holton - Wiedoeft model |
John Grey &Sons ( Lugano ) |
*King/HN WhiteKingstencil for Lyon & Healy |
Kohlert |
Lyon& Healy - theirown American Professional |
and - Lyon& Healy - theirown Couturier |
'20's The Martin'30's Martin Handcraft |
Horace -Martin stencil*Martin'Home' Model Rolled gold plus very best of the rolling stones rarely. |
Oscar- AdlerSelmer Modele 22new 2008> |
Thibouville-Lamy< new 2008 |
VitoWeril (Brazil )York |
* * * * * * * * |
A GALLERY of other C-Melody saxesI've owned.. |
.... and some Ihaven't ! ( coming.. ) |
Buescher (test imageonly>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>)
1915 25103
1916 28875
1917 32350
1918 37540
1919 46975
1920 61255
1921 78525
1922 99275
1923 125750
1924 150250
1925 175275
1926 202350
1927 222175
1928 235250
1929 275275
1930 255250
1931 260125
1932 264025
1933 265523
( courtesyof - http://www.coolsax.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/serialnos.HTM#Buescher)
* * * * * * * * *
Conn
30,000 - 1914
35,000 - 1916
40,000 - 1917
50,000 - 1919
58,000 - 1920
64,000 - 1921
83,000 - 1922
101,775 - 1923
124,600 - 1924
145,400 - 1925
167,900 - 1926
193,450 - 1927
209,250 - 1928
224,600 - 1929
237,800 - 1930
244,700 - 1931
249,230 - 1932
256,501 - 1933
( courtesyof - http://www.fortunecity.co.uk/madchester/rave/360/conn_serial.html)
* * * * * * * * *
Evette&Schaeffer ( Buffet Crampon )
19500 17.09.1910
20000 21.01.1911
20500 02.03.1912
21000 11.05.1912
21500 20.11.1912
22000 30.07.1913
22500 11.07.1914
23000 08.06.1916
23500 17.01.1917
24000 18.03.1919
24500 27.03.1920
25000 09.07.1921
26000 14.10.1922
26500 04.08.1923
27000 31.05.1924
27500 15.11.1924
28000 11.07.1925
29000 25.09.1926
( courtesyof - http://saxwelt.de/index.php?module=ContentExpress&file=index&func=display&ceid=61&meid=66)
* * * * * * * * *
Holton
1 1901
254 1902
476 1903
526 1904
1151 1905
1872 1906
3345 1907
4630 1908
6071 1909
9474 1910
12,402 1911
15,950 1912
20,807 1913
21,100 1914
31,622 1915
33,671 1916
37,909 1917
(note- interleaving number changes)
41,070 - 43,972 1918
55,000 - 55,249 1918
43,973 - 47,600 1919
55,250 - 57,040 1919
47,601 - 49,817 1920
57,041 - 58,499 1920
70,000 - 70,549 1920
49,818 - 54,999 1921
58,500 - 59,499 1921
70,550 - 73,199 1921
59,500 - 60,599 1922
73,200 - 76,099 1922
60,600 - 61,649 1923
76,100 - 81,000 1923
61,650 - 62,199 1924
81,001 - 85,600 1924
62,200 - 62,899 1925
85,900 - 89,849 1925
62,900 - 63,149 1926
89,850 - 92,799 1926
63,150 - 63,299 1927
92,800 - 97,199 1927
63,300 - 63,549 1928
97,200 - 101,399 1928
63,550 - 63,849 1929
101,400 - 105,199 1929
63,850 - 64,049 1930
105,200 - 108,399 1930
64,050 - 64,149 1931
108,400 - 111,049 1931
111,099 - 113,899 1932
113,990 - 114,999 1933
( courtesyof - http://www.mouthpieceheaven.com/content/holton.htm)
* * * * * * * * *
King/ H N White
Note:- these serial numbers should be taken with a 'pinch of salt', theaccuracy isdoubtful. I've heard from Joe Uebelacker, who has a KingC-Melody s/no34xxx. Going by the published serial numbers, this places it's agesomewherebetween 1893 and 1915 (helpful..) However, on the samewebsite there isan announcement that the 'King C-Melody was introduced around1916-1920' - in fact probably closer to1920 Hrmmmmm.
Date Serial Number
1893-1915 1-50,000
1915-1925 50,000-78,000
1925-1930 78,001-126,000
1930-1935 126,001-161,000
( courtesyof - http://www.hnwhite.com/serial%20number%20sax.htm)
Note - it is rumoured,that from the 30's, King C-Mels were produced engraved as 'Cleveland'
* * * * * * * * *
Martin
Serial# Year
17221 1919
19482 1920
19933 1921
23781 1921
29942 1922
34838 1923
40644 1924
48489 152342 1925
54853
67852 162852 1926
172051
79254 1927
86687 1928
*192536 1027 1929
*first digit dropped on most serial numbers
98324 2982 1930
101622 7119 1931
105096 1932
106546 1933
108301 1934
10758 111253 1935
14526 116551 1936
( courtesyof - http://www.mouthpieceheaven.com/content/serials.htm Theo Wanne )
King/ H N White
Note:- these serial numbers should be taken with a 'pinch of salt', theaccuracy isdoubtful. I've heard from Joe Uebelacker, who has a KingC-Melody s/no34xxx. Going by the published serial numbers, this places it's agesomewherebetween 1893 and 1915 (helpful..) However, on the samewebsite there isan announcement that the 'King C-Melody was introduced around1916-1920' - in fact probably closer to1920 Hrmmmmm.
Date Serial Number
1893-1915 1-50,000
1915-1925 50,000-78,000
1925-1930 78,001-126,000
1930-1935 126,001-161,000
( courtesyof - http://www.hnwhite.com/serial%20number%20sax.htm)
Note - it is rumoured,that from the 30's, King C-Mels were produced engraved as 'Cleveland'
* * * * * * * * *
Martin
Serial# Year
17221 1919
19482 1920
19933 1921
23781 1921
29942 1922
34838 1923
40644 1924
48489 152342 1925
54853
67852 162852 1926
172051
79254 1927
86687 1928
*192536 1027 1929
*first digit dropped on most serial numbers
98324 2982 1930
101622 7119 1931
105096 1932
106546 1933
108301 1934
10758 111253 1935
14526 116551 1936
( courtesyof - http://www.mouthpieceheaven.com/content/serials.htm Theo Wanne )
- and a'simpler' list -
Serial Number & YearManufactured --- Serial Number &Year Manufactured
17,221 1919 --- 19,482 1920
23,781 1921 --- 29,942 1922
34,838 1923 --- 40,644 1924
48,489 1925 --- 67,852 1926
79,254 1927 --- 86,687 1928
92,536 1929 --- 98,324 1930
101,622 1931 --- 105,096 1932
106,546 1933 --- 108,301 1934
111,253 1935 --- 116,551 1936
( courtesyof - http://www.musictrader.com/martin.html)
* * * * * * * * *
Selmer -Paris
( Not 'Selmer - New York', whichis a US stencil )
| Year | Model | Serial Number |
| 1922 | Model 22 | 750-1400 |
| 1923 | 1401-2350 | |
| 1924 | 2351-3350 | |
| 1925 | 3351-4450 | |
| 1926 | Model 26 | 4451-5600 |
| 1927 | 5601-7850 | |
| 1928 | 7851-9700 | |
| 1929 | 9701-11950 | |
| 1930 | 'Cigar Cutter'/'Super Sax' | 11951-14000 |
| 1931 | 14001-15750 | |
| 1932 | 15751-17250 | |
| 1933 | 17251-18700 |
The listcontinues right up to 1992, so is well worth a visit - link below
( courtesyof - http://www.selmer.com/content/selmerparis/saxophones/serial_no.php)
* * * * * * * * *
York
SerialNumbers Comments
0 -8497 Made prior to 1903
8500 -57,000 Made between 1903 and 1913
57,000 -112,000 Made between 1913-1938
* * * * * * * * *
A fewStencil names- ( I'm sure there are loadsmore out there... )
| AmericanProfessional - Lyon & Healy | A Buescher stencil, andearlier their 'own' Martin hybrid - see 'Note 1' below |
| BeaumontAmerican , Chicago | |
| Bettoney | my 'spares' C-Mel,definitely Martin, also made by Conn (thanks toRichard Brown) |
| Bruno | Seen as a Conn stencil,with 'mercedes' low C guard - curved neck. |
| CarlFischer | Importer, BuescherStencil, also 'badged ' Evette & Schaeffer ( Buffet Crampon ) |
| Champion | Seen as a Conn stencil,with 'mercedes' low C guard - curved neck. |
| Concertone | |
| Couturier- Lyon & Healy | This was, I think, oneof Lyon & Healy's earlier 'own' horns |
| C R Peronze | Agents for York |
| Ditson (Oliver) | Musical Instrumentdealer/supplier |
| Elkhart | Buescher and/orMartin - the name was used later for 50's Bueschersaxes |
| Elkhorn - Holton | Not really a stencil,Holton's C-Melody, but I've seen them listed as such. |
| Gretsch | The one I've got is aBuescher stencil |
| Jenkins /Kankas | Seen as a Buescherstencil |
| HarwoodProfessional | Seen as a Buescherstencil |
| Horace /Landay Bros. NY | I had one - a MartinStencil |
| Inspiration- Lyon & Healy | also engraved Lyon& Healy, their own ? - see 'Note 1' below |
| Kalashen /J Kalashen | Seen as a Buescherstencil |
| Lyon& Healy | Made some of their own -see 'Note 1' below |
| Masterbilt | I've fleetingly had one,made by Conn |
| Pan American | Conn's own stencil,great sax ! Curved (tenor style) neck |
| Perfection/ Bruno | also seen as Perfakten /Perfacktone , on other saxes as well |
| SelmerAmerican - New York | Conn stencil, has'mercedes' low C guard |
| Silva-Lae/ Naujoks McLaughlin | who also made a great'silver-lay' C-Melody mouthpiece |
| Winterroth | Conn stencil, curved(tenor style) neck |
| Wurlitzer | Seen as Buescher , Conn, and Martin stencils |
Note 1 - Lyon &Healy either made, designed, or commissioned their 'own' C-Melody saxesat thestart of the era, from parts seemingly supplied by the majormanufacturers. Typically those 'own' models have a strangemix of theMartin body (with bevelled tone-holes), but with the Conn 'mercedes'low Cguard, and either a Martin style neck (straight brace) or a Conn styleneck(curved brace). (but) I'vealso seen one 'Gretsch' stencil with the same mix....
Lyon And Healy Cornet Serial Numbers
LaterLyon & Healy C-Melody's were pure Buescher or Martinstencils. King also produced a limited number of stencils engraved Lyon &HealyInspiration, usefully with the aux-Front-F key, but without the'double-G'cup. I own one of those - it's my backup C-Mel, checkout BigUgly, alsofeatured at the top of this page.
* * * * * * * * *
IfI've forgotten anyone, or you finda more comprehensive set of serial numbers anywhere, please feel freeto mailme.
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Lyon Healy Serial Numbers
. L . > Lyon & Healy
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