Saxophones trying to ID an old loft find F-alto

[Ed209]

so I'm trying to work out what this instrument is, and whether it's worth restoring:
* no serial numbers or any kind of markings
* two octave keys
* tuned to F (ish) - quite a flat F
* low B hole on the left of the horn, no Bb

any ideas?

 

[griff136]

some pictures would be good. it could be a high pitched Eb alto.
does it have red pads? if so its likely to be an indian knock off of an early alto.

 

[Ed209]

here it is (at long last) next to my alto for scale - and yes, red pads

 

[Ed209]

 

[griff136]

Looks like an Indian copy ( red pads, rollers and buttons is a give away) It's a copy of an old alto to low B, it's also got a non automatic octave mech too.

 

[EdJ]

There are loads of pretty much non functioning Indian pocket Trumpets around marked with turn of the last century brand names e.g. Boosey (without Hawkes). It looks like an Indian copy to me too. Does it play ( unlike the pocket Trumpets)?

 

[Stephen Howard]

There's one of these in my Black Museum.(halfway down the page)...it's worth whatever someone will pay you for it (about five quid, as a rule).

The Black Museum - a woodwind house of horror.

An exhibition of botches, horrors, monsters and other assorted nasties

www.shwoodwind.co.uk

 

[Ed209]

Ha, thanks folks. No it would need quite a lot of work to get close to playing.
It's looking more like a wall ornament. Maybe I can make a steam punk lamp out of it

 

[Colin the Bear]

Plant pot. That's a booby trapped loft.

 

[jbtsax]

That is a true SOS "saxophone shaped object".