Mark VI sopranos: Engraved vs Non Engraved

[smoothjazztenor]

Most of the VI sops I've seen do not have engraving.
Only rarely do I see one that has engraving on the bell.

Was engraving an option for the American assembled sops?
Or do the engraved ones tell me that they are European assembled?

[Michael Ward]

Every Mk V1 I've bought in the UK since the late 70's ( about 6 to date) has been engraved. Most US horns I've seen haven't been engraved. My US nino is unengraved.
I've seen a few unengraved Paris assemble sops but most have been engraved..

[Grumps]

Mine was a special order from Selmer (noir), was made in '72 and is engraved.

[smoothjazztenor]

Thanks guys. That leaves me to wonder...if they can engrave on the altos and tenors in Elkhart, why don't they do it on the sopranos?

[spike421]

Sopranos didn't really become common and popular (since the 1920's) until the mid 1970's, about the time the Mark VII was introduced. At that time Selmer USA began importing horns directly from France, as opposed to them being sent in parts to be assembled in Elkhart. Most of these horns initially were not engraved. Engraving was optional in Europe at an extra cost. Thus the large percentage of Mark VII's and VI Sopranos without engraving. The excuse/story/tale given was that the engraver died. The reality was probably that there was a cost savings to the dealer. I believe all Selmer France horns have come assembled directly from France since then and are currently engraved with the French "Butterfly" pattern.

[milnak]

Sopranos didn't really become common and popular (since the 1920's) until the mid 1970's, about the time the Mark VII was introduced.

That likely explains why sopranos under ~180k are so hard to find.