Expert: Kenton Scott - 2/16/2009

Question
Hi Kenton,

About 5 years ago I got an old sousaphone from an estate, and am playing it for community band. I wonder if you might know more about it.

It is lacquered brass, has a 24" bell attached by 2 screw in knobs which make a pressure fitting, and 3 valves. On valve #2 there is serial #192321. On the bell there is a very faintly hand engraved picture of a colonial soldier, and below, also faintly hand engraved, it says "CONTINENTAL COLONIAL". The valve guides consist of a small (<1/4") tab that screws into the top of the piston and slides up and down a grove in the cylinder wall, and the springs sit loose in the bottom of the cylinder. The valve caps are stamped on the inside T1,2 and 3 for the top, and 1,2 and 3 on the inside on the bottoms. The serial # of the instrument is stamped on top of the valves, as well as the valve #. The whole instrument has been taken apart and the dents removed, and the pistons have been replated. It came with an adjustable stand.I have been told this is a Pan American 52K from about 1949. That would make it about the same age as me. What do you think, and do you know what the specs would be? I am not able to supply a photo at this time as I am not great at the computer thing, but could get help if required.

Thank you for your assistance. I appreciate anything you can tell me.

Yours Truly,

Derk van Hees
Powell River, B.C.
Canada.

Answer
Continental Music Company was begun by Conn in 1923 as a wholesale division of it's Chicago retail store.  Continental instruments are re-branded Pan American models.

It sounds like it has been refurbished and buffed before it was relacquered.  I don't that there is any conclusive evidence that they used the same serial number sequence on  Continental as they did on Pan Am.  But if they did, then 1949 would be correct.

52" in height, has a 24" bell and weight: 26 pounds

Only problem is that it is listed that 52Ks were made 1936-1946.  Possibly, inventory was closed out via the Continental.