BeaufortAmericanSoldByHolton

[Walter Webb]

Another puzzler: Sure, it's engraved "Sold by Frank Holton," but who made it?
Not much Holton features to be seen. Those tone holes are sure beveled, and the block capital letters "LOW PITCH" might indicate Martin. Or is it Couturier or a rare Beveled tone hole Buescher?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Holton-Alto-Saxophone-conn-Buescher-Stencil_W0QQitemZ250514198106QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a53cf4e5a

[LaPorte]

http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh411/LaPorte1922/Bildschirmfoto2009-10-1522-22-15.jpg

The missing pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place. Thank you for contributing one of the most interesting ones! :)

More often stencils than not - the Holton Brands "Beaufort", "Beaufort American" and "The Special" were anyway born out of necessity. I might write about that subject in a later thread.

#578 Holton Saxophone; Serial number registry:

"Ca. the first two years (1918/1919) no saxophones were
produced in Elkhorn. ..."

"While the factory in Elkhorn was prepared for civil
purposes only (probably early in 1920) the production of
saxophones continued initially in Chicago later in Elkhorn. ...

... The following list has served its purpose, too as it shows that ca. 4,500 serial numbers are fictious. That means Frank Holton did not produce saxophones in Elkhorn 1918 and 1919. ..." The serial number (Buescher, any doubts?) puts the alto in question near the change of the years 1918/1919!. "... There never will be found a Holton saxophone e.g. with the SN 3177. ... But there has just been found a Holton sold saxophone #46342!:D

[LaPorte]

"The Improved Method" (ca.1917-1919) Buescher Tonehole Design

Buescher tonehole design (arrow No.2) prior to changing to Hayne's patent from Oct. 1914 - extruded toneholes (ca. 1920 on alto saxophones)

http://www.saxpics.com/?v=img&img=/buescher/pics/the_saxophone-1923/BTH.jpg

Source: saxpics.com

[bandmommy]

I've looked at the photos, but I can't see where those tone holes are beveled.
They look NOTHING like the ones on either of my Martin saxes.

[dvdberg]

The typewriter G# key and the bottom protector speak Buescher to me, not Martin at all.

[bruce bailey]

Stange beast. The tone holes, G# and key cages don't look like Courturier and some of the keywork seems to copy Martin. My Olds Super has tone holes like that. Jeez, it looks like a horn of parts!. Also the lack of pearls and the serial number layout may just be the Buescher connection mentioned above.

[LaPorte]

A Buescher stencil. That's nothing to make a song about. There is e.g. that overpriced baritone made by Buescher and sold by Holton 1916
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1914-Beaufort-LP-Baritone-Sax-ERIE-RAILROAD-Conn_W0QQitemZ110398530095QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item19b443e22f#ht_8907wt_1167

The particular thing is that Holton sold a Buescher alto 1918/19 after having started own saxophone production in Chicago 1917! (Here is one of the last own makes just before moving from Chicago to Elkhorn April 1918: http://cgi.ebay.com/Frank-Holton-Tenor-Saxophone-Antique-Parts-Repair-1_W0QQitemZ290361257354QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item439ae12d8a#ht_6367wt_1167)

Why did he do that?

"Perhaps the factory was pressed into wartime work. Perhaps making metal parts for…?" (Soybean)

Analysing the serial numbers you'll find that ca. 4,000 saxophone numbers are fictitious, there are no saxes in the range of ca. 1,400 and 5,500, that makes a total of 1,5 - 2 years of saxophone production at that time!