Saxophones Martin Indiana Year ID?

[JayeNM]

I tried, The Wayback Machine to see if I could salvage it but it seems that it was not able to access any pages beyond the main one.

Too bad

Interesting, I didn’t know there is two versions. The right one is all I’ve seen.
A the build features the same ?

My recollection of the phase 1 old indian was it was like the later ones IOW it isn't like it was a completely different design

 

[Stocker]

My observations are the same - Martin deleted the trill keys from the Indiana before WWII, so there probably wasn't much else to change when they re-started production aside from modernizing the engraving. My '53 Indiana looks like my '25 Handcraft with a few toneholes moved.

You need to go back quite a ways to get to the archived Martin Story pages. I think the cookie acceptance page that got implemented at some point either prevented archiving or prevents access, but I don't think the site got a lot of updates in recent years. The Martin Story - All there is to know about Martin saxophones

 

[PigSquealer]

@Stocker awesome job finding this site again. I tried without success.
The archive appears to be from 2-2-2008 to 22-5-2025 and +/- 105 captures. This page recorded 4-6-2012
With a Copright of 2007.

 

[JayeNM]

cool, serial numbers of Indianas are on there...a little rough in how close you can pinpoint year, but still good

 

[Stocker]

Yeah, there are some oddities with it.

I've been poking at it off and on trying to make improvements - some things fall into place, others get curiouser.

 

[Hoosierken]

This is the one that I have been using. I don't remember where I found it. From what I remember it was being assembled using known purchase dates. Not as precise as manufacture dates but better than nothing.

 

[PigSquealer]

Yeah, there are some oddities with it.

I've been poking at it off and on trying to make improvements - some things fall into place, others get curiouser.

Conversation we had at the other place. You noted 1919 and 17xxx for first year was off. You own a 15xxx as proof. Ken & I have 17xxx vins. In study we were thinking 1917 was a closer start date. So, does this also alter the Indiana timeline ? I’m thinking the catalog & dated advertising supports timeline accuracy for this model. Your thoughts ?

 

[Stocker]

Conversation we had at the other place. You noted 1919 and 17xxx for first year was off. You own a 15xxx as proof. Ken & I have 17xxx vins. In study we were thinking 1917 was a closer start date. So, does this also alter the Indiana timeline ? I’m thinking the catalog & dated advertising supports timeline accuracy for this model. Your thoughts ?

I don't own one that early, so you've probably mistaken me for someone else in that respect. I've seen one as early as 150xx, and I think it's a reasonable guess that Martin jumped on the saxophone bandwagon after seeing H.N. White and Holton do so. I have yet to find any dated material related to early Martin saxophones.

I was speaking of the Indiana chart, not the Martin chart, but the Martin chart is off in the sense that most copies of it omit the exact dates as are found on the one on Dr. Rick's site. I can only surmise that someone had a few minutes alone with the record books before they were destroyed and just took the first serial and date from each one.

The year-to-year production numbers the Indiana chart suggests are wonky, but assuming that the exact dates from the Martin chart correlate at least somewhat to it, they fit a little better.

 

[PigSquealer]

Update ;
The Wayback link no longer works. However the original link to The Martin Story is now working again.
The Martin Story - Martin Home model saxophones

 

[murrayatuptown]

Both the Wayback and original Martin Story links worked for me today.

I got a 2nd Martin Indiana (1957?) alto for USD 50.xx, $88 with tax & shipping Tuesday this week.

My first (1952) was in decent shape but original pads & needed some corks. $231 purchase IIRC. I had it serviced short of overhaul, stripped, cleaned, pads, corks, some key rod slop addressed, set up.

I bought the 2nd because it was cheap, in case a friend wanted it. He liked mine. Pads are newer (brown plastic resonators). Light leak check looked good. Key action felt good but a few loose keys. Horn & case are disgusting...powerful mildew stench and after trying to play it for a while I pulled a swab thru the neck. I have never seen so much black crud come out. Swab immediately went to the laundry room. I think it will need not a lot but I debate what to do. I think I'll set it aside & think about it...because...

The friend said 'no, wants a Committee III'. He found a 1962 Music Man tenor last month and I arranged the AuctionSniper/PayPal strategy on eBay...he'll pay me back. It came with some recent pad replacements and was playable.

He sent me a link for a 1959 C-III alto. I gave him my opinion, buried in a long tirade about 'parts/repair' sellers asking prices working horns should command with no clue about anything. I said decent price from my view, but most of my gambles needed some work, & I'd rather have the work done than struggle trying to play. He said he'd keep hunting. So I bought it. Lots of corks missing, couple weak springs, 1-2 bent key guards, 1 palm key action feels bad. I'll have it looked at next week.

'Stinky' the #2 Indiana I talked myself out of learning repair on. I think the pads look healthy. I decided I will watch some Youtube disassembly videos, take photos/video of my disassembly, strip it, clean the body. Then clean keys and the pads with cotton swabs/99% isopropyl & see what I think at that point. Then I can get close to it without holding my breath, put it back together & decide what I want tech to do. If the pads are not great, it's an opportunity to do something I did in the mid 80's that outrages people nowadays...Emilio Lyons' advice to apply neetsfoot oil to pads (before he switched to WD-40). People asked me why my 80's pads were so dark, but no tech wanted to replace any and I used the horns 3 more years before selling them. I decided I won't oil new pads I just paid to have installed, but have nothing to lose on this one.

But Committee III first.

 

[PigSquealer]

Stinky' the #2 Indiana I talked myself out of learning repair on. I think the pads look healthy. I decided I will watch some Youtube disassembly videos, take photos/video of my disassembly, strip it, clean the body. Then clean keys and the pads with cotton swabs/99% isopropyl & see what I think at that point. Then I can get close to it without holding my breath, put it back together & decide what I want tech to do. If the pads are not great, it's an opportunity to do something I did in the mid 80's that outrages people nowadays...Emilio Lyons' advice to apply neetsfoot oil to pads (before he switched to WD-40). People asked me why my 80's pads were so dark, but no tech wanted to replace any and I used the horns 3 more years before selling them. I decided I won't oil new pads I just paid to have installed, but have nothing to lose on this one.

The Indiana was well bought. IMHO these are incredibly underrated altos. I did a full repair thread on one at the other place. Not an overwhelming first alto to DIY service. Start a repair thread here and ask questions. There’s a multitude of members here that will help you out.

Any treatment to old pad leather is a roll of the dice. It’s very thin (.014-.018) and can degrade in a blink of an eye.