"Ancient" sax. Worth anything?

**swingguy** · 06-30-2011, 09:03 PM

I found an ancient tenor sax for sale. Didn't buy it so I don't have pics.
It is so old there is no low Bb. There is no Arpeggio high F key. There is no bis key or "1 and 1" mechanism for Bb. There is no F# chromatic (trill) key. Looks almost like one of those early Adolph Sax horns ... but it's Italian.
It's got something like this on the bell in very small engravng 'PRiMIATO STABIL]'
'AGOSTINO RAMPONE & BATTISTA CAZZANI & C MILANO'
'[SPORTAZIONc MONDIALE' and a 4 number serial on the back.
This is not 100% accurate but as close as I can remember it.

Is this something that collectors would be interested in? It actually plays with only a couple of leaky pads! I wouldn't want a student learning on a horn ike this since so many modern mechanisms are missing. Guy only wants $75.00 for it. Am I nuts for not grabbing it?

**Mattutopia** · 06-30-2011, 09:09 PM

A good price for an old collectors horn. I'd snap it up (I collect old saxes). It sounds like an early Rampone and Cazzani horn (the new ones are hot stuff now), probably dates to the early 20thC - clearly not for a main horn, but as a museum piece - great value! I'd go for it and have a piece of early saxophone history in your hands. Your not going to find another one, that's for sure.

**Enviroguy** · 06-30-2011, 09:14 PM

Yep,

These ancient saxes usually bring at least a few hundred USD on eBay. Some bring a little more. Don't try to have it overhauled. Just buy and resale as is. The buyers for these a usually collectors and those wanting a cool wall hanger.

**swingguy** · 06-30-2011, 09:33 PM

He still has it - I'm going to go ahead and buy it. I'll take some oics as soon as I do. I'll post them in here in a couple of days just in case anyone in the forum is interested in seeing it.