Last (original) C-melody DOB?

**csax** · 08-28-2007, 08:04 PM

Bruce / Mark - is this what you mean by 'Pontiac' bell rings ? Not many Pontiacs in the UK

On the left, a 30's Martin stencil, on the right, a few decades newer Martin Medalist.

**markm** · 08-29-2007, 11:15 AM

CmelodySax. Great Pix.That's what these discussions need. I'll let Bruce answer your question since he coined the phrase. I'd guess that he'd say 'both' and that very likely 'both' were made at IBIco (And I bet they both play great). We know the Medalist was made there as a 'student' or 'intermediate' model. As a Martin stencil, the 30s silver one may have been made there as well. Most named Martins do have a simpler band - if that is a real clue. And your serial number fits IBIco numbers established for 1935.

The Bell Rings on the left looks just like my silver Standard Special stencil 25xxx. My 5-digit serial number Home model has multiple rings as well -but a little more crude. I can't tell from your web picture about the band on your 6-digit Home model - but 6-digits does put it much earlier and would fit into the Martin factory '31 numbers.

MM

**csax** · 08-29-2007, 01:21 PM

Mark - I've got some other Martin 'rings' - slightly different, I'll put up a pic of those as well as a better one of the home - than you'll have a full set !

The Medalist plays great (except for the missing bell-B pad

) - almost as good as my Martin Magna, same kind of feel.

**bruce bailey** · 08-29-2007, 06:02 PM

I can't see the photo as it is just an X for me.

**csax** · 08-29-2007, 06:25 PM

Bruce - I've found with some browsers that posted pics don't work for me either... Try this link -

http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/blogfile...-rings-800.jpg

**bruce bailey** · 08-29-2007, 10:02 PM

I get FORBIDDEN with that link, they must know me!

**markm** · 08-30-2007, 12:14 AM

I'm going to tread water here until Bruce can see those pix from CmelodySax. And I've asked TheMartin to weigh in here, but in the meantime, I've been trolling www.themartinstory.net as much as my time allows. I just hope we're close to some break through.
Looking at pix on Edwin's site - I do not see the now infamous 'Pontiac bell Rings' appearing until the Home Model. If ever there was a model to sub out to your 1928 acquired factory, the 'Home Model ' is it! EVERY picture of the Home model on themartinstory.net shows these rings. Mine too. Every Indiana model (which we 'know' was made at IBIco) except the alto pictures labeled serial number 89113 shows these rings. Unfortunatley, the late model/HIGH serial number Imperials do not not shown do not have them. The ONLY medalist shown on the web site has them.

DISCLAIMERS:When considering the above observations, I must admit I've been concentrating on alto pix .

WISH: I would like TheMartin story to accept beveled tone-hole stencils pix as a separate -unauthorized page. It would be great to have a clearinghouse of likely Martin Stencils to compare. Mandatory photos of certain features -bell rings, left pinky cluster, etc - along with stamped numbers would eventually bring some pattern to the surface.

**csax** · 08-30-2007, 08:19 AM

Bruce - don't get paranoid, problems with my ISP, I think they've gone down, even the 'ring' pic has vanished. Hopefully "Normal service will resume later"... (update) all back now, if you still can't see it, try this link to my 'mirror' site -

http://www.dorsetdriftwood.btinterne...-rings-800.jpg

(original) http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/blogfile...-rings-800.jpg

If you still don't see it, guess I'll have to email you the pic

Mark, one of the other 'bell rings' pics I was going to put up was of a rough 'Martin' stencil, definitely from the 20's, but with bits that aren't quite interchangeable with other Martin Martins (or Martin stencils)... Poor choice for a Martin parts horn ! Mark - how about you start a site - " The IBIco Story..."

**bruce bailey** · 08-30-2007, 05:48 PM

Got it. That is one of the types I have seen but the other has a more rounded raised look to the rings.

**csax** · 08-30-2007, 06:26 PM

Bruce, you mean 'more raised' like these ? Left, the Martin Home, and right, a Martin'ish C-Melody (but where the parts aren't quite standard Martin 'fit'...)

And, in case you can't see the picture -

http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/blogfile...ings-800-2.jpg
(and) http://www.dorsetdriftwood.btinterne...ings-800-2.jpg

**kjack48230** · 06-23-2008, 04:21 PM

Just got my hands on a Buescher Aristocrat C Melody with serial number 2827xx. Satin silver plate with gold wash bell. I'm now concidering a full restore on this one and then selling it.

**SearjeantSax** · 06-23-2008, 04:40 PM

new Cs are made by mason music as well as C sops

**soybean** · 06-23-2008, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by kjack48230

Just got my hands on a Buescher Aristocrat C Melody with serial number 2827xx. Satin silver plate with gold wash bell. I'm now concidering a full restore on this one and then selling it.

That would be a 1938 horn, right? I've seen a lot of True Tone C-mels, but not any Aristocrats. Is the keywork more modern? Post photos if you can.

**kjack48230** · 06-24-2008, 01:42 AM

posted my pictures on this thread:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=87617

**markm** · 06-27-2008, 11:12 AM

KJack - That's outstanding.Congratulations.That may be THE last. I see that Alan has pictures posted on his front page - http://cmelodysax.co.uk/cblog/

I hope to run across a similar vintage Martin someday....it keeps me going into 'junk' shops.

**csax** · 06-27-2008, 07:01 PM

Mark - those late Martins must be out there somewhere, but mine is really the only real late Martin C-Mel I've ever seen with front-F etc. - with the possible exception of a slightly earlier 'typewriter' C (just saw a picture, once, on a website long-gone, so it may even have been a tenor).

Having said that, I've seen a couple of 30's Martin/IBICo 'Melody Master' C-Mel stencils which look identical to mine, except they had more gaudy lacquer and Bruce's famously named 'Pontiac rings'. So for mid/late 30's Martin C, you may just have to settle for a stencil !

If the 30's Melody Master C plays anything like my 30's Melody Master Bb tenor, also a Martin/IBICo stencil, they're none the worse for being a stencil...

**markm** · 06-30-2008, 09:26 PM

Another SOTWer just brought my attention to a Martin C-mel review by Stephen Howard.

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/...n_C_Melody.htm

In it he mentions that this 1923 was 'close to the end of the line' for Martin C-mels. That seemed a bit premature, but I must admit, i have not seen many Martin C-mels much later (with the exception of yours Alan). I have seen stencils - Wurlitzers, etc.

Stephen really articulates some of the things i have felt about the Martin tone- dry mellow with a little bit of air to mysterious, and noirish.

MM

**soybean** · 10-07-2008, 05:15 AM

I just bought a Buescher #240xxx. (Not the last.

) I'm pretty excited because not only is it a late model, it's also gold-plated and in great condition.

Some of you may remember when i had 3 C-mels: Buescher, King and Holton. I did a shoot out and ended up keeping the Holton and selling the other two. The Buescher was an earlier model 158xxx. I'm hoping this gold one will be the horn to beat.

**bruce bailey** · 10-07-2008, 06:04 AM

Nice, very nice. I picked up a gold plated Conn and these sure are beauties. Hard to find a series IV TT in such nice condition.....great catch.

**Grumps** · 10-07-2008, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by soybean

[SIZE="3"][FONT="Trebuchet MS"]I just bought a Buescher #240xxx. (Not the last.

) I'm pretty excited because it's not only is it a late model, it's also gold-plated and in great condition.

Wouldn't the engraving for gold plated Bueschers be a bit more elaborate? Also, on the palm keys, it looks like bare brass showing; not underlying silver plate, as would be the case with a gold plated horn. The silver could have been worn there as well, but this just doesn't scream gold plate to me.