cydad761
04-18-2003, 07:19 PM
I inherited an old Lyon Healy American Professional Chicago (SN 368XX) tenor sax from my grandfather. When I first started doing research on it, I thought it was a Martin Stencil. Now I am thinking it is an early Buescher True Tone Stencil.
After looking at more photos at the saxpics website I think I have found some distinguishing features that would make it a Buescher.
1. It has the round g-sharp key at the top of the left hand pinkie keys.
2. It has the correct shape of "crown" at the bottom of the sax that protects it if you set it down. It has three bumps, not sure I'm describing this very well.
3. The octave key mechanism matches some photos I found exactly and the lever operating the neck octave key sticks up almost an inch above the body of the horn instead of only a short distance like most saxophones.
If I am correct, and if the SN correlates to the Buescher SN chart that would date this horn to 1917/1918.
I can play this sax, but it is quite clunky due to missing corks and felts and some weak springs. It is silver plated and looks like the keys may have been gold plated at one time. There were never any pearls on any of the keys, just plain brass round spots for your fingers.
Questions -
1. Do you think I am correct in my analysis?
2. Is this vintage of True Tone as good as the later ones?
Any imformation you might have is appreciated.
Due to the sentimental value, I am thinking of doing an overhaul on this sax.
Thanks!
Jeff
After looking at more photos at the saxpics website I think I have found some distinguishing features that would make it a Buescher.
1. It has the round g-sharp key at the top of the left hand pinkie keys.
2. It has the correct shape of "crown" at the bottom of the sax that protects it if you set it down. It has three bumps, not sure I'm describing this very well.
3. The octave key mechanism matches some photos I found exactly and the lever operating the neck octave key sticks up almost an inch above the body of the horn instead of only a short distance like most saxophones.
If I am correct, and if the SN correlates to the Buescher SN chart that would date this horn to 1917/1918.
I can play this sax, but it is quite clunky due to missing corks and felts and some weak springs. It is silver plated and looks like the keys may have been gold plated at one time. There were never any pearls on any of the keys, just plain brass round spots for your fingers.
Questions -
1. Do you think I am correct in my analysis?
2. Is this vintage of True Tone as good as the later ones?
Any imformation you might have is appreciated.
Due to the sentimental value, I am thinking of doing an overhaul on this sax.
Thanks!
Jeff