Antique Musical Instruments/Imperial Saxaphone

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Expert: - 7/21/2007


Question
Have a baritone sax with Imperial marked on the bell.  Made in Elkhart.  Serial number would put it as made in 1946.  Research to this point only points to it possibly being a Martin, but the Martin Imperial stopped production before 1946 from what I am able to find.  Thank you.

Answer
Saxes aren't really my area, but. . .

Imperial is one of those troubling names that have been used by a lot of instrument makers/dealers including: Slater, Pepper,Jenkins, Holcomb, Essex, Bueg. & Jac, Voigt,Haynes, Fairbanks,Cornish & Co, Pollmann, Boosey & Hawkes, and Imperial Company of Williamsport PA. . . . and Martin.  And, probably others.

I think the Martin horns, in addition to saying Imperial will also say Martin.  

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

Expertise

Please note: My area is BRASS instruments, not other wind, string or percussion instruments. I will provide information on antique, obscure and out of production BRASS instruments. 1) Please don't ask for evaluations, I'll not provide them on this site. 2) I am often asked very similar questions, so I'd invite you to first check on Horn-u-Copia.net. Much of the information I have garnered about this topic, I have posted on this WEB site.

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I perform in several historical bands, have informally researched the area, repair brass instruments, and operate a Forum dedicated to the topic at http://horn-u-copia.net

Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.

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