Saxophones Can anyone shed any info on this sax please??

[andy.ross001]

Hello!!

I have come across another Saxophone, was wondering if anybody could shed any information on it. I seem to be going round in circles on google.

It is larger than the ones I have seen before, from the black bit at the top (where the mouth piece would fit on) to the bottom it is about 30 inches.
It has engraved on it -
1er Grand Prix
DE
laFacture Instrumentable
MEDAILLE D'OR 1900
Aaolpne SAX
MADE BY SELMER &CIE
H SELMER & CO LTD
12 MOOR STREET, LONDON W.I
NO 1190

Any help would be most appreciated!!

 

[aldevis]

I am guessing a so called "Selmer Adolphe". A picture would help.

is it like this?

http://www.saxpics.com/?v=mod&modID=10

 

[andy.ross001]

I have just inserted a photo, yes from what I can see it looks very much like the one in the link.

 

[aldevis]

Check this old thread: it even has a picture of the original ad

http://cafesaxophone.com/showthread.php?4749-Adolphe-Sax

 

[andy.ross001]

Check this old thread: it even has a picture of the original ad

http://cafesaxophone.com/showthread.php?4749-Adolphe-Sax

Love the old ad!!

I will look carefully through the old thread in a bit, Thanks for that!! No matter how hard I try to research these things I never find pages like that!!

 

[aldevis]

Love the old ad!!

I will look carefully through the old thread in a bit, Thanks for that!! No matter how hard I try to research these things I never find pages like that!!

That is because they are keeping people like us, confined in asylums like this forum.
"I solved the mystery! Double fruit salad today!"

 

[andy.ross001]

That is because they are keeping people like us, confined in asylums like this forum.
"I solved the mystery! Double fruit salad today!"

Love it!!! 🙂

 

[aldevis]

Does this seem right for dating it??

http://www.donmack.com/selmerserial.php?SN=1190

Not sure. I was expecting a higher serial on your horn (I would roughly date it around 1928, like a so called "selmer super sax") but I would need to see the LH pinky spatula and the front F, if there is one. I might be that they were using different serial numbers for Adolphe model.
We probably need to wait for someone on the forum more familiar with it.

 

[kevgermany]

Does this seem right for dating it??

http://www.donmack.com/selmerserial.php?SN=1190

No. These saxes had their own s/n range which doesn't appear to be documented properly. I'd guess about 1931/32

They play well, sound good! And if you're struggling for a mouthpiece the modern Selmer S80 works well.

Here's one with the curly Sax keyguards. Index of /AE_Sax_Alto

 

[aldevis]

No. These saxes had their own s/n range which doesn't appear to be documented properly. I'd guess about 1931/32

They play well, sound good! And if you're struggling for a mouthpiece the modern Selmer S80 works well.

Here's one with the curly Sax keyguards. http://www.kevsgallery.com/AE_Sax_Alto/

Kev, is it similar to the selmer super sax / cigar cutter (without the cigar cutter)?

 

[kevgermany]

Kev, is it similar to the selmer super sax / cigar cutter (without the cigar cutter)?

No, it's really an earlier A Sax, assembled by Selmer just after they took over Sax's business.

 

[andy.ross001]

No. These saxes had their own s/n range which doesn't appear to be documented properly. I'd guess about 1931/32

They play well, sound good! And if you're struggling for a mouthpiece the modern Selmer S80 works well.

Here's one with the curly Sax keyguards. http://www.kevsgallery.com/AE_Sax_Alto/

Thanks for your help. I have got 2 mouth pieces and what looks like a bag full of reeds!

It is a beautiful looking instrument but I am so useless at music I can't even get it to make a sound!! Unless the sax is supposed to sound like one of my kids blowing a raspberry!!

We are in the process of setting up a new business so we have discussed it and this Sax has to go to help us with the finances. I just do not want to sound any more stupid than I already do when I try and sell it!

 

[kevgermany]

If you're determined to sell.

1 - identify the mouthpieces and list each separately.
2 - get someone who knows/can play to check it over and assess playability.
3 - if you go down the ebay route put a respectable reserve on it. Good pics and a clear description help a lot.

Prices on these vary, but here it'd probably sell on ebay for between 1000 -2000 euros, depending on condition and who's bidding.

 

[andy.ross001]

If you're determined to sell.

1 - identify the mouthpieces and list each separately.
2 - get someone who knows/can play to check it over and assess playability.
3 - if you go down the ebay route put a respectable reserve on it. Good pics and a clear description help a lot.

Prices on these vary, but here it'd probably sell on ebay for between 1000 -2000 euros, depending on condition and who's bidding.

We have to sell it, we don't want to take out loans etc to start our business and also none of us can play any instrument so it will just sit on top of my wardrobe for another 30 odd years!

Do you mean list each mouth piece to sell seperately?

Unfortunatly we do not know anybody who can play the sax so I will be honest and state that since my grandads passing it has not been played.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[andy.ross001]

Just found a serial number, would this be more accurate -

[h=1]SELMER SERIAL RESULT:[/h]

Serial Number[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]: 12718[/FONT]​

is a[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Super Sax ('Cigar Cutter')[/FONT]​

and was made in: 1930

 

[kevgermany]

Yes, list each mouthpiece to sell separately. They can be worth a lot of money and when you sell something like this, with mouthpieces, you often miss out on the full value. Assuming the mouthpieces have matching ligatures and caps, then sell them as sets (mouthpiece + ligature + cap). Mention all markings on the mouthpieces, especially if the writing is at an angle (slant signature). Good photos help.

Not sure where you are, but it's probably worth going to a decent technician and asking them to look at the sax and see what (if anything) needs doing.

 

[andy.ross001]

Yes, list each mouthpiece to sell separately. They can be worth a lot of money and when you sell something like this, with mouthpieces, you often miss out on the full value. Assuming the mouthpieces have matching ligatures and caps, then sell them as sets (mouthpiece + ligature + cap). Mention all markings on the mouthpieces, especially if the writing is at an angle (slant signature). Good photos help.

Not sure where you are, but it's probably worth going to a decent technician and asking them to look at the sax and see what (if anything) needs doing.

The mouth pieces have caps but not sure what a ligature is?? One does have some sort of logo/writing on it, will have to look under good light to see it.

I'm in East Sussex, will google a technician. Thank you so much for your help. I'm not quite sure about the ebay route at the moment. Don't really feel that I know enough about it. Might see what local dealers are willing to give. The sax does need some work done, it has not been played for a long long time though the body, apart from a little rubbing, seems brilliant. But then I am not trained in this!

 

[kevgermany]

Just found a serial number, would this be more accurate -

[h=1]SELMER SERIAL RESULT:[/h]

Serial Number[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]: 12718[/FONT]​

is a[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Super Sax ('Cigar Cutter')[/FONT]​

and was made in: 1930

Now we dig into things..

When Selmer took Sax's business, they continued making Saxes under the Sax name, and separately under their own name. The Sax saxes started a new serial number series, on the bell and ran from 1 up to about 3000. These saxes also often had another number on the body, which I've seen described as a Selmer serial number and also as a Selmer workshop or production number which wouldn't be a serial number.

The earlier models in this series were clearly Sax designs, down to keywork and guards. And there were at least 2 types of guard - the curly ones in the link I posted and straight wire ones.

Some guys say that the later ones sold under the Sax name, were rebadged Selmers (e.g. cigar cutters) and the hint earlier in the thread. It's not really that clear from existing documentatoin. And it's quite possible that yours may be a cigar cutter.

Cigar cutters are easy to identify from the 'cigar cutter' plate in the octave linkage. e.g. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewoodwindworkshop/7065437419/

If it's a cigar cutter, in good condition, it's probably worth more than the Sax variant...

 

[andy.ross001]

I can't see any curly bits on it so maybe it is not a cigar cutter.

The 12718 is imprinted on the u bend, where the sax bends up to the horn if that makes sense and the other number is on the front.

 

[kevgermany]

I can't see any curly bits on it so maybe it is not a cigar cutter.

The 12718 is imprinted on the u bend, where the sax bends up to the horn if that makes sense and the other number is on the front.

Can you post some more photos?

Location for the number you found is right, the U bend is called the bow. The Selmer number seems to fit with the age/1190 serial for a Sax model. But... I'm no expert. Need good pics to distinguish it from a cigar cutter.