Help with Holton!

[Shirish]

Ok I have a Holton Collegiate alto bought in a slightly projecty condition.. It's an older model with full gold lacquer. Very sweet clear tone and plays well except for the unique octave mechanism which is not working. Basically the neck pip stays open and closes only when you press the G key. Even my tech can't understand it. It's not a question of setting it, or bending the key closer... I just need to see a picture of an original, correctly operating octave mechanism close up and try to match mine up and see what's missing. Can anyone help me?
Thanks!

[bruce bailey]

I think one spring is too strong against another spring operated key. Probably the one on the neck.

[Shirish]

No, that would have been an easy fix. The problem was the neck key activating rod had come off and there seems to be a particular way to attach it back. The rod has a big hole in the middle which might be for some sort of hinge screw which is missing. sorry this is so vague. Does anyone have this particular model?

[LaPorte]

... It's an older model ...

An older COLLEGIATE model can be very different. Has it split or LH bell keys? Has it front F? A photo and/or a serial number would be helpful.

[Shirish]

Hi, yes I should have mentioned, it's not THAT old to have split bell keys. It has a normal pearl front F and both bell keys on the left like a Big B. I'll get the serial number when I get the instrument back from the mech tomorrow. I estimate around 1950s. It has a dark gold lacquer all over, keys and all.

[JayeSF]

The only way it closes is when you press the G key ?

Sounds like the horizontal armature at the top of the G key barrel is on the wrong side of the vertical armature of the octave stem...that is...IF the mechanism is the same 'see-saw' type as my '61 alto, pictured below.

Hope this helps a little.