Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/31/2006

Question
I have an old saxaphone that was my deceased Fathers- he played in the late 50s early 60s.  It is an "Indiana Band Instrument Company" sax with "low Pitch A 4874" on the back.  It is stenciled and was restored this year and given to me for Christmas.  There isn't much on the internet about it.  Can you tell me anything about the company or the worth of the instrument (I would imagine it was a cheap buy since my grandparents were not well off at all and I'm sure they bought it for my Dad)

Thank you

Answer
The Indiana company was established by Martin bought the company in 1938, but allowed it to continue as a separate company.  Then in 1942, Martin converted the name to be their student line of instruments.

There are no serial number lists that I know of for Indiana instruments, but with that low serial number AND the fact that it is labeled Low Pitch, I suspect that it is at least older than 1942.  And, that suggests to me that it was not a cheap student grade instrument.