The Ultimate "Otto Link Identification" Thread

[Tenortones]

Transitional?...as one of the posts said, I don't think the chart accounts for this mouthpiece-it may be "current production" in comparison to the so called Florida links... (this link just so happens to be a Florida resident! )...but seriously I don't think it's like the ones they make today at all.

[MojoBari]

On the chart, after the STM blue dot, I do not think there should be an arrow returning back up to the top USA? question. You could get stuck in an infinite loop.

[KevinSax]

well, i got me the good ol' stm usa, is that the worst one on the thing. I think it is

[Buck Laughlin]

Maybe this has been answered, but where does the "transitional double ring" fit on this chart? There is some limited information on it at the mouthpiece museum.

Buck

p.s. This chart is outstanding!

[Bluej]

Giganova, very cool of you. Great work! Thanks.

[MM]

I just discovered there seem to be two types of tenor sax STM USA.

Both say USA and have the facing on the shank. Font sizes are the same.

1. Wider tip and shallower angle of beak. Larger inner shank diameter. Small outer shank diameter.

2. Narrower tip and steeper angle of beak. Smaller inner shank diameter. Larger outer shank diameter.

#1 is the one I have seen most often. Can anyone comment on the vintage difference?

[Rackety Sax]

Is the "large font" tip opening stamp on early Babbitts the same size stamp as on modern production?

[Jazz House]

THis is awesome!

[Buescher27]

I'll try to get one done over the next few months.

Upping this : great job on the STMs, did you get down to the HRs ?
I know my STM is modern, though the lig seems more vintage. What I really would like to know is if my Slant sig really is one

[Tenortones]

Just going through the mouthpiece bag here and wondering-
Is this an old link?
the number's on the side and it has the slanted signature,
but it looks brand new-anybody know?

[KennyD]

I'm curious to know if there's a rough idea of the year that the Links changed from STM USAs to NY STM USAs?

Mine's got "Super" (as in using quotes still) so that puts it as not later than 1999.

[Swampcabbage]

I'm curious to know if there's a rough idea of the year that the Links changed from STM USAs to NY STM USAs?

Mine's got "Super" (as in using quotes still) so that puts it as not later than 1999.

See if you can find yours here.

http://www.theowanne.com/mouthpieces101/OttoLink.php

[KennyD]

Well, mine can't be a Florida model 'cause the 7* is on the shank, not on the barrel (unless there was some early STM USA crossover between placement of the sizing for Florida and USA Links).

And it's a gold-plated short barrel Link so it shouldn't be a transitional - so that puts it as 'somewhere between 1980 and 1999' (after the Transitionals and before the stamp change without the quote marks around "Super") and before the NY models.

If I knew when the NY marking started, I could narrow the gap further than just 'somewhere between 1980 and 1999'...

Or were NY and non-NY models made at the same time?

[mfry]

The new New York models were made concurrently with the smaller chamber STMs from maybe 1991 on iirc. Short wide barrel with number on the shank sounds like late 70's/early 80's, before the 80's long barrel.

[Swampcabbage]

Yes, the NY and Non NY were made at the same time.

[KennyD]

Yes, the NY and Non NY were made at the same time.

Yup, I figured that was probably gonna be the case once my cranial cogs started turning...

[MojoBari]

Babbitt currenly makes regular STMs and "NY" stamped STMs for tenor.

[brigont]

Folks,

OK. just picked up a used tenor from an old player in the neighborhoood. He gave me an old link that he was no longer using. I know its a Tone Master (matched shank to chart and I see Tone Master 9*).

Now... Can someone help zone in on the vintage/year? The registration number is almost completely gone. There is a serial number on the side that appears to read 1 B 2 9

There are no other discerning marks on the outside of the piece...

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance...

Brian

[toughtenor]

I saw an STM link for sale today on the dutch version of ebay which had the number (6) on the shank but on the other side of where it usually is. On top instead of on the "under" side of the shank. also strange is that the "super" tone master is written all the way on the lowest edge of the shank as far as I can see ( the photo is not very clear )
I asked the seller for additional pictures, when I get them I'll let you know.

anyone seen this before ?
The ridge with the typical Otto link lettering seems normal.

there seems to be no number on the side but I'm again not sure of that either.
Could have been worked on by somebody. Anyone know of any known refacers who'd put the "new" number on that specific place ?

update, seller sent new pics, it's probably a baritone piece , somebody shortened the shank to make it fit to a tenor.

[coolnote]

Nice chart, great reduction of a lot of information into a clear flow.

There's a thread of about the EB vs Florida distinction at:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthr...=1#post1321592

This was re: bari pieces, but I'd be surprised if they used different stamps for the bari vs tenor pieces. I have a no USA Florida STM tenor, but the "4" stamp is 2.5mm tall, while the bari piece in question is 2.8mm tall.

Where did the 1.6mm vs 2.4mm come from?