Buescher TT tenor...Mystery key

[bongorific]

Hi guys, Another dumb question from the "Drummer". I aquired a True Tone tenor. Great sounding horn. Instead of the more modern key arrangement with the Large spatula key and two smaller below. similar to my Big "B" and my 400. it has a round pearl inlayed key and then the the two keys with roller between. What is this key and function in combination cause.
I also want to run an ethics question by you. I bought this horn 4month ago. when I recieved it It had no serial number. serial had been removed. Obviously horn was stolen sometime in it's past. Horn had very professional removal and laquering over in that area. I sent it back to seller exsplaining horn had been stolen.( seller said no serial , never said scratched off) In process of sending back I found out that I knew seller from when i lived in Detroit. He ran a Music/pawn shop in Pontiac, Mi. I had done business with him many times. Told me he got horn from an older fellow who wanted to learn how to play sax. His instructer advised him to get a more modern horn due to fingering i described above. HH sold him an armstrong or something and took this horn in trade. HH while a very shrewd business man also is a very religious man and never works on Saturday. Was always fair with me and while ussually getting the better of me never cheated me.
He relist horn on E-bay as "Horn with out serial." I throw a bid at it . And what do you know I win. Ok I loved the horn the first time. so I knowingly bid 2nd time and now own. I dont intend to resell, the theft coud have accured b/4 I was born in the 30's or 40's who knows. Having lived in Detroit for 20 years. I know what a drag it is getting your instrument ripped-off. SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY? iS THERE ANYTHING i CAN REALLY DO.
Aso a a Post-script HH has closed his stor approx. 5 years ago and retired. He still has some items that he occasionally list on E-bay.
Thanks for viewing and would be intrsted in info on Key and any comments on Ethic issue.

[Dave Dolson]

Bongo: If you are referring to the left-pinky table keys (for low C#, B, and Bb) the little pearl button alongside those spatulas is the G# button. Older TTs had a G# button vs. later models that had a G# roller-style finger-touch.

The differences are minimal, in my opinion. Neither design was articulated (my meaning is that later designs allowed for the G# and lower C#, etc. to be linked together).

As to the ethics, I personally would NEVER buy or possess a serial-numbered item that had an altered or removed serial number or other identifier. In most states, it is a crime to knowingly receive, dispose of, or possess such an item, regardless of the underlying events.

This subject has been discussed several times on SOTW. Maybe some research into older threads will reveal more discussions about it. DAVE

[bongorific]

Your right Dave.I probably shouldn't rebid. I honestly didn't exspect to win. then I was committed.
After some investigation I see what is actually happening with the pinky finger button. Never had a pre-1940 horn before. Takes a little getting use too.

[Dave Dolson]

Bongo: I don't recall which year Buescher added a roller G# or when they made the whole left pinky table interconnected. I have several TrueTone Bueschers, both with and without the roller G# touch. None have the interconnected mechanisms on the left pinky table. They date from the early 1920's up to 1928.

It is of little consequence as to how to play it . . . I get around perfectly well on my 1920's Bueschers.

It was around 1925 when Buescher added the roller G#. So yours is most likely early 1920's. Without a serial number, you can't pin it down much closer. DAVE