couesnon on ebay

[bechisbest]

I nearly bit the bullet and bid on a very early couesnon.It was keyed down to B and had two octave keys, and I thought it might be high pitch. It went for about £110($150usa). Did I do right in leaving it.Condition looked ok.

[Pete Thomas]

Was this to play or as an investment or for a museum?

[soybean]

As Pete infers, this is not a good one for playing. You did the right thing.

[bechisbest]

Yes, according to Arthur Briggs (who was still alive aged 100 a few years ago) when Bechet bought his first horn he insisted on a single octave key.

[soybean]

Yes, according to Arthur Briggs (who was still alive aged 100 a few years ago) when Bechet bought his first horn he insisted on a single octave key.That's interesting. Was Arthur saying Bechet was the first player to ask for a single octave key?

[saintsday]

You probably were right to pass, but this old timer keyed from B to Eb played beautifully and right on pitch.

[bechisbest]

Thanks for the beautiful picture.I wish I had bought it to look at.It's very difficult to say what went on when Sidney got his first sop.The first patent for an automatic octave key was granted in 1888 to A.Lecomte and co.(The Cambridge companion to the saxophone)

[bechisbest]

Nothing to do with saxes but it's funny, it was either Johnny Briggs or Eubie Blake, who, on reaching the age of 100,said"If I had known I was gonna live this long I would have taken better care of myself".

[soybean]

Yes, that is inherently very funny! If we knew how good vintage saxes sounded, we would have taken better care of them.