Kenosha-made Vito Tenors

[knighttrain]

I know there are at least a few examples of Kenosha-made Vito altos. I read that some of you SOTW members have one, and I've seen some for sale on ebay (there's actually one for sale now - Item number: 140081925834 if you're interested). However, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone having a Kenosha-made Tenor. Does anyone out there have one or know of one?

[lamar reeves]

When I was researching the deluxed engraved Kenosha Vito the web site only listed altos.

[kimslava]

Hey knightrain, I've got a Vito tenor in my lap while I type this message...s/n 966A. I am guessing it is made in Kenosha because of the following:
1) It does not say "Made in France"
2) The engraved "VITO" is simply engraved with the letters stacked vertically, the "V" at the top. The "V" is like an triangle balanced on its vertex and filled in. All the engraving is a very simple squiggle sort of thing. Oh yeah the "VITO" is enclosed in an oval. Looks very Kenosha to me...no signs of the floral or scroll-work I associate with the French engraving.
3) The serial number ends with "A". At various times I have wondered it that "A" signified "Alto" or "America" or .....? I see the "A" on the Model 35 LeBlanc System Vitos. I used to think those were made in France, but now I think they were made in the US.

All that said, I bet the keywork and body and necks were fabricated by Beaugnier in France and assembled in Kenosha....so that makes them kind of French regardless of where assembled.

This tenor has the triangular G# with the switchable G# articulation. "Vito" written in script on the fingertouch of the G#. It has teeter-totter style octave mech. It has the fairly ornate 'wrap-around' pant guard behind the lower stack, which I've seen on Beaugnier and Noblet horns. A single-piece guard on the left-hand low B & Bb keys; C# and C on the RH-side.

This'd be a pretty nice horn except the neck is beat to H*** and back.

Kim

[knighttrain]

Kim, Thanks for the response. By your description and the serial #, I would agree you have a Beaugnier-designed Tenor rather than a total USA-designed and manufactured horn. I have a Beaugnier Vito Tenor also (ser. #20XX), as well as a Beaugnier Vito Alto (#50XX A). My USA Kenosha Alto does not have the articulated G#, nor the signature Beaugnier Bell Brace. The serial # on that one is V-20xx. I like to play all these horns - along with true-tone Altos, they may be the best deals left - seriously underpriced.

[kimslava]

So your original question asking after a tenor fully fabricated and made in Kenosha...more like the V-serial number Vito alto's? I have yet to see one of those.

I've seen few enough of the xxxx-A serial number Tenors much less a V- tenor.

I was getting the neck on the Vito tenor I mentioned before, back into shape when it developed a crack along the seam where the neck brace is. It's hairline, but air does come through. But this is not the right place to talk about that.

Kim