Lyon & Healy Alto Sax

[jknott]

I stumbled upon an alto Sax with the markings "Lyon & Healy", MAKER (5 or S), Chicago USA. On the back is the letter "A" above the serial number 16932. Below the serial number appears to be an upside-down "L". Can anyone help in determing the value of this saxophone and its age?

[bruce bailey]

Photos are needed. L&H bought most of their horns from other makers. Based on teh serial number it appears to be a Conn horn but without the photos it is just a guess. In fair condition worth probably $75, in playing condtion maybe $200.

[jknott]

Thanks for the info! I will try to get some pics of the sax online. Is it possible to find out what year the sax was manufactured using the serial number?

[cmelodysax]

Probably in the 20's - if it was stencilled by Conn for L&H, the Conn serial number lists won't relate. Pictures will give a clue to the age.

The 'upside-down' L is intriguing tho' - Australian Low Pitch ? ;)

[jknott]

Okay, I took some pictures and uploaded them here

http://picasaweb.google.de/knottger/Saxophone?feat=directlink

I would greatly appreciate any info you can provide.

Thanks, Jim

[bruce bailey]

This was made for L&H buy Courturier in LaPorte Indiana (near Elkhart and Chicago) before L&H bought the company around 1928. They were similar to Martins with the soldered tone holes. I have one like it in silver and one in gold plate. Dark sounding horns that are built well.

[jknott]

Thanks alot for the information! The upside-down "L" seems interesting to me. Does anyone know if that was common practice by instrument makers?

[bruce bailey]

Just an error

[LaPorte]

I stumbled upon an alto Sax with the markings "Lyon & Healy", MAKER (5 or S), Chicago USA. On the back is the letter "A" above the serial number 16932. Below the serial number appears to be an upside-down "L". Can anyone help in determing the value of this saxophone and its age?

Steve Mumford who spent many hours in the archieves of Elkhart and LaPorte wrote:

"1916, Couturier formed his own company with investors, bought out Seidel Co. in Elkhart (anybody seen any instruments by William Seidel?) and moved there in 1918 (maybe late '17 still searching) moved to LaPorte in Oct. 1918 and went into receivership Oct. 4,1923. Lyon & Healy bought the factory in 1924 and continued to make saxophones and trumpets ... in LaPorte (marked Chicago) until April 1928 when they sold the equipment to Holton.
The last Couturier serial numbers were late 10,000, apparently L&H continued the series and went to about 19,000, then made some with 200 and 201,000 serial numbers."

I'm working on a 'E.A.Couturier/Lyon&Healy Reconstructed Serial Number List'. SN# 16932 can undoubtly be applied to the year 1925. Made by Lyon&Healy in the LaPorte factory; no stencil.

[jknott]

Hey LaPorte, thank you so much for the great information! I am really surprised that the sax has no dents on it, especially now, knowing that it is a model from 1925.

[jknott]

Again, a big thanks to everyone for the help. Now, considering all the information and the pictures I posted here:
http://picasaweb.google.de/knottger/Saxophone?feat=directlink#
Should I try to buy this from my neighbor myself, or let him sell it to someone else? I play tuba, clarinet, and once in a great while sax. I don't own my own sax....yet. ;)

[bruce bailey]

The pads look pretty good but the plating on the keys is bad. How much does he want for this?

[jknott]

Well, thats the problem. He asked me to find out how old it is and what it is worth because someone is interested in buying it and he doesn't know how much to ask for it. :( He's no musician, just more or less a junk dealer.

[bruce bailey]

It depends on the buyer. I have the same horn needing pads but with great plating for $150 and his is the opposite, good pads with bad plating. I would guess $150.