Saxophones And for my next fix... a vintage Conn (by any other name) 92M for... £16.92

[DavidUK]

My first eBay sax purchase. The seller's listings all read rather oddly "From Ireland" then item location "Birmingham, West Midlands, Ireland" and then "Post to: Ireland, United Kingdom". Rather off-putting, so I sent a message to say I would collect from Birmingham (I work there most weeks) unless that wasn't OK. Didn't get a reply so my collection of said sax may never happen.

Anyway, I understand the one I've allegedly bought is a Pan American Cavalier model 92M from 1937-38. If that's correct there are varying reviews of this model on t'internet, but the main theme is that if it's built by Conn in the 1930's it's got to be a well made sax.

So, over to you.... what HAVE I bought? Does anyone have any other info/thoughts about it? Here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-P...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

PS. Have a look at the seller's other completed listings, if you have time.

 

[AndyWhiteford]

they don't have much feedback, but i'd have been tempted by the Conn 10M tenor that they sold for £682.63.
Looks like you bought a "Pan American Cavalier.",a 1950's 6M stencil ?? nice price! I wish i knew where this person was getting all their nice old saxophones from, like the selmer alto etc

 

[DavidUK]

they don't have much feedback, but i'd have been tempted by the Conn 10M tenor that they sold for £682.63.
Looks like you bought a "Pan American Cavalier.",a 1950's 6M stencil ?? nice price! I wish i knew where this person was getting all their nice old saxophones from, like the selmer alto etc

Yes, I watched all the saxes sell, the YTS-52 went over my limit of £250 for it, and I was wary of the mis-described Selmer so didn't try for it. The 10M was at £80 in the last minute and I was ready to bid £300 but in the last ten seconds bids jumped up to where they should be for one needing work, as it appeared from the photos.

I'd done some research on the Pan Am and, still being wary of the odd listings, thought £30 worth a try. But nobody else bid.

We'll see....

 

[jonf]

You never know, I once bought a C G Conn alto in a similar condition for forty quid, and it turned out to just about play. It was in a right state but I was able to sell it on for a decent profit.

Yours doesn't look too bad, Cavalier's were Conn's cheaper brand but still pretty good saxes for their time. Nec looks like it might be from another sax as the patina looks different, but it's difficult to be sure from such a poor photo. Whatever, at that money you can't go wrong, even if you end up using it as a flower pot.

 

[DavidUK]

...even if you end up using it as a flower pot.

You know, that was exactly my thinking too!

Actually, I'd quite like to have a go at re-padding a sax myself, and this may be such an opportunity if the seller is correct in her diagnosis. No reply from the seller so far to my request to collect it tonight as I'm over in Brum. :shrug:

 

[DavidUK]

Ah... here we go...

Just had a 2nd chance offer on the Conn 10M at £250 (I forgot I did offer!). This smacks of another seller a few weeks back: http://cafesaxophone.com/showthread.php?9913-Strange-quot-Second-Chance-Offer-quot-on-ebay-You-too

I was fifth highest bidder on the Conn.

I phoned eBay last night and asked them to check out the listings. The seller has been on eBay for five years. They responded but didn't warn me off or remove the listings. I'll phone them again now.

£250...hmmmm..... here's hoping!

 

[DavidUK]

...and the result is..... it's all a SCAM !!

I requested the seller's contact details via eBay and they came straight through to me. Phoned her and she knows nothing about any saxophones. Last used her account three years ago.

Looks like someone has hacked her eBay account, probably linked a different PayPal account to it so as to rake in an amount of money from buyers and second chancers then transfer the money out to their fake bank account, out of that into another, close the first bank account, and away.....

Be careful out there. Be vigilant and you'll not lose any money!

 

[Linky Lee]

When things look too good to be true they often are, this seems even more appropriate on the internet when the buyers and sellers are separated. Be wary and you won't get burned.

 

[Saxdiva]

My first eBay sax purchase. The seller's listings all read rather oddly "From Ireland" then item location "Birmingham, West Midlands, Ireland"

One of the scammers' favourite tricks is to post confusing/multiple item locations. It means that wherever someone is who asks to view or collect, they can say it is elsewhere. They hope someone will pay first for convenience. A hacked PayPal account is newer, and will probably lead to more people handing over money. At least they are covered.

 

[Ivan]

...and the result is..... it's all a SCAM !!

I admire your bloodhound nose for El Scammo

And it's great entertainment seeing what you unearth on t'internet

Keep it up!

 

[kevgermany]

...and the result is..... it's all a SCAM !!

I requested the seller's contact details via eBay and they came straight through to me. Phoned her and she knows nothing about any saxophones. Last used her account three years ago.

Looks like someone has hacked her eBay account, probably linked a different PayPal account to it so as to rake in an amount of money from buyers and second chancers then transfer the money out to their fake bank account, out of that into another, close the first bank account, and away.....

Be careful out there. Be vigilant and you'll not lose any money!

I hope you found out before sending the money.

Well discovered.

 

[DavidUK]

I hope you found out before sending the money.

Well discovered.

Yes, the only reason I bid was that I had already messaged the seller, presuming I would NOT get a reply, with "If I win this item I will collect with cash from Birmingham. Please let me know if this is NOT OK." That clears the way if a (genuine) seller later accused me of not paying via PayPal. It sets a contractual term without having to rely on a reply.