Holton Stencil?

[LaPorte]

For you guys a tough nut to crack:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gretsch-Buescher-Silver-Alto-Saxophone-Circa-1908-U-S-A_W0QQitemZ350214278176QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item518a65cc20&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

1. Who is the manufacturer?
2. Which model?
3. Year of manufacture?
4. Structural difference to the original model? (Gretsch was a demanding customer!)

[jazzbug1]

This looks like a rare Holton stencil. I have never seen one before. I doubt if it's French, as the cage anchors were fancier shapes on the French horns. It has the looks of a Holton from the mid 1930s. For me, the giveaway is the case, assuming it is original, is exactly the same a my Holton alto case of the same era, with rounded corners. Holton cases, like their saxes, were always a bit different, and a custom fit for Holtons only. Some other makes would not fit. This horn does not have features of the contemporary makers such as King, Conn, or Martin. I am not familiar with Buescher horns of the 30s, but this horn has a bar G# and left hand bell keys. Was Buescher doing this in the 1930s?
If not, then I vote for Holton. Hope it goes to a nice home.

[JayeSF]

It has certain features which are similar to Holtons. But that serial # is really hecka, hecka low, no ? Unless Gretsch demanded their own #'s...

The giveaway would be the octave stem mechanism....if it had the ball-joint spring loaded kind which Holton used back then, that would convince me. Unfortunately, the pic of that area of the horn is too small to tell....but it could be one....

[geauxsax]

Yep--Holton. I posted a link to a Gretsch tenor / Holton stencil a while back.

Here: http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/Holton/stencils/Gretsch-cybersax/Gretsch_15xxx_Tenor.html

A dead ringer for an early Colegiate (like Mope sold).

[LaPorte]

So many knowledgeable answers, good work! And I've learned something about Holton cases of the thirties era.

This looks like a rare Holton stencil. I have never seen one before. I doubt if it's French, as the cage anchors were fancier shapes on the French horns. It has the looks of a Holton from the mid 1930s. For me, the giveaway is the case, assuming it is original, is exactly the same a my Holton alto case of the same era, with rounded corners. Holton cases, like their saxes, were always a bit different, and a custom fit for Holtons only. Some other makes would not fit. This horn does not have features of the contemporary makers such as King, Conn, or Martin. I am not familiar with Buescher horns of the 30s, but this horn has a bar G# and left hand bell keys. Was Buescher doing this in the 1930s?
If not, then I vote for Holton. Hope it goes to a nice home.
Yes, Buescher stencils of the beginning thirties (e.g. Lyon&Healy which was no manufacturer anymore) had LH bell keys. The G# however has half round shape without rollers, smaller than on the Gretsch stencil. It won't go to my home as I have one very similiar, which is in the process of an overhaul.

It has certain features which are similar to Holtons. But that serial # is really hecka, hecka low, no ? Unless Gretsch demanded their own #'s...
The giveaway would be the octave stem mechanism....if it had the ball-joint spring loaded kind which Holton used back then, that would convince me. Unfortunately, the pic of that area of the horn is too small to tell....but it could be one....
The serial number... That's an important question which I've been thinking a lot of time. Did Gretsch possibly demand own serial #'s?

Yep--Holton. I posted a link to a Gretsch tenor / Holton stencil a while back.

Here: http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/Holton/stencils/Gretsch-cybersax/Gretsch_15xxx_Tenor.html

A dead ringer for an early Colegiate (like Mope sold).
I knew you would know!

[geauxsax]

:headbang::toothy7::wave::occasion:

[JayeSF]

Good eye, Geaux....

Quick...ayone wanna throw in an abbreviated list of Holton Stencil horns ? ...mine consists of only 2, now :

Gretsch

Artist

[jazzbug1]

Nice job, Geaux.