Pennsylvania Special Bari

[Pete]

eBay item 2516835011 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2516835011&category=16 233)

As mentioned in another thread, I believe these horns to be variations of the Keilwerth "Deluxe" model, made in the late 1920's and early 1930's.

Someone please buy this horn (it's pretty inexpensive) and take more pictures of it for me. Send 'em to saxpics@x-mail.net

[singlereed]

Pennsylvania Specials were sold by Selmer in the UK, though the others I have seen were (I believe) US-made stencil tenors or altos (Conn or Buescher, can't remember which). The seller says its Czech made which would suggest Amati, though those palm key pearls look a bit special don't they?!

[Pete]

I'll need to post that Keilwerth history soon. Still translating some of the German and Czech. Gimme a week or so.

* Julius Keilwerth moved from Grasliz, Czechoslovakia to Nauheim, Germany around 1946.

* The Selmer Pennsylvania Special is the one pictured. Selmer also "had produced" a Pennsylvania model that they sold from about 1930 to 1960. It was made by a couple of different companies, either from Germany (Karl Meyer) or Czeh. (possibly Amati).

[Jerry K.]

"Someone please buy this horn (it's pretty inexpensive) and take more pictures of it for me."

Pete, I'm taking a run at this horn and if successful I'll take lot's of pictures for you before and after the overhaul.

[Jerry K.]

Well, I did win this auction at what seems a very fair price. I hope to have the horn in a few weeks and I'll post my initial impressions then and take some good shots from all angles for all to see. 8)

[Jerry K.]

After becoming aware that a number of the rolled toneholes on this bari have had the rolled edges of the tone hole filed off, I will be passing on this interesting horn. I was looking for a bari that I could actually play after an overhaul and not just keep as part of a collection. The mixture of rolled and unrolled toneholes presented more of a challenge than I was up for and given this damage, it's probably not worth the investment in time and materials. I doubt many people would want a horn that has been altered like this. :cry:

[Jerry K.]

Here is a reply from the seller regarding my concerns over what looks like a filed tonehole:

"... the holes are all fine, none have been filed they all have rolled edges on them, I have attached some pics but it is very hard to photograph the holes , the sax is need of a clean and it could be that there is dirt around the edges of the holes which makes them look flat instead of round or it could be the angle that the photo was taken from ..."

Please take a look at the picture below and tell me what you think of the top tonehole in the image.

http://members.aol.com/lightnsail/images/penn2.jpg

[Jerry K.]

Final update until I get the horn:

I received more images from the seller this morning and the toneholes look to be intact. I can see these same 2 toneholes from a couple different angles and all looks well. Seller said that the tone holes are all still rolled and not filed or damaged. I'll know in a few weeks what I've got.

[Pete]

I'm looking forward to it. Thanks!

[Jerry K.]

Ok, the bari arrived today and looks a little better than I expected. Interesting design with the upper octave pip in the vertical piece leading to the neck tenon rather than the neck. The neck is a tiny little thing and rather short probably due to a longer tube where the octave mechanism is located. Won't be playable until I get some time in a couple weeks. I'll post some "before" images as soon as I can get them up on a page.

One nice thing about this bari is that it came with 3 mouthpieces that are all in good to excellent shape. Pieces as follows:

Berg Larsen 100 0 T, SMS, looks like a duckbill with a bullet chamber, excellent condition.

SML R4, excellent condition large chamber rubber piece.

Martin, 1*, marked Martin Handcraft, 6 Moor St., London W.I., interesting piece with slot cut into either side of the table with a lig that slides into this slot, a couple nicks on the sides of the rails.

Any info on the mouthpieces would be appreciated.

[Jerry K.]

Well it's been a while but this Pennsylvania Bari has been reborn. Complete overhaul for this old girl, new Selmer "style" pads with plastic resos, new felts, dents and most dings removed, cleaned and polished some, new protec contoured case. This horn is covered in pearl from the palm keys to all right and left pinkie keys. This horn's really unique. For your viewing pleasure:

http://hometown.aol.com/lightnsail/images/selmer_penn1.jpg

I will be selling this unique bari on ebay soon. Here is a link to additional images:
http://hometown.aol.com/lightnsail/Pennsylvania.html

Please email any questions you may have.

[pianoman]

Hi I have recently been offered a Pensylvania Special Bari made in Czech. It appears to play alright throughout the whole range although it was damaged in a accident so the spit valve has been broken. I have been quoted about £20 to replace/repair this. The sax looks in good condition although there are several dents and the usual scratches in places.

Are there any websites where I can enter the serial number and find a date etc and how much would it be worth?

Any information would be very helpful

Many thanks

Martin

[Dave Wright]

I owned and gigged one of these for quite a while. One thing that was constantly remarked on was its tone although i found it somewhat cumbersome to play compared to the modern horns ( plus no low Bb).
It had a fair amount of interest on Ebay and sold for....(searches for the pound sign on his aussie keyboard) :scratch:.. 400 british pounds.
Cheers

[Jerry K.]

Martin, I really doubt you'll find a usefull serial number chart as there is almost no information out there regarding the history and manufacturer of these horns. My best guess would be either a Kohlert or Keilwerth family connection. Does yours look like the one I had?

[pianoman]

Yea the sax looks identically although it is gold not silver lacquer.

cheers

[Jerry K.]

The bari I had was silver plated. Is yours gold lacquered or gold plated? If gold plated you will see silver plating below the gold in wear areas around thumb rest, finger touches, etc...

[pianoman]

Hey im not too sure as the sax appears to have been re-laquered several years ago. I believe that it is gold on gold but will have to double check that. Will have a look at the sax tho to see if there are possibly any tell tale signs anywhere about the laquer but will not be able to get to the sax untill tues.
Many thanks
Martin