Buescher Altos: Throughout the Years

This page chronicles the evolution of the Buescher alto from its introduction around 1890 to its purchase by Selmer around 1963.

NOTE: there is an error on most serial number charts. They say that production for 1929 ended at s/n 275275 and ended in 1930 at s/n 255250. The 1929 ending s/n should be around 245275.

Why just altos? Well, the alto is the most popular pitch in the saxophone family and Buescher generally introduced changes in their alto designs first, and then migrated them to the other pitches. As point of fact, baritone and soprano models are generally a generation behind in design, for most manufacturers (e.g. Selmer Mark VI baritone, sopranos and sopraninos were available 15+ years after their alto and tenor counterparts were discontinued and "migrated" to the Mark VII and Super 80 Series I). The other major reasons are that I don't have enough pictures for all the pitches and it would be extremely time-consuming to post them all, even if I did.

Here's the breakdown I've come up with:

* True Tone s/n 0 to ca. 2627xx; ca. 1890-1930
* New Aristocrat Models: s/n ca. 2627xx to ca 267xxx; 1932 to 1934
* Aristocrat (Series I): s/n 267xxx to ca. 291xxx; 1934 to 1941
* Aristocrat "Big B" models: s/n 291xxx to ca. 355xxx; 1941 to 1955
* Aristocrat (Series II -- model 140 alto, etc.): s/n 331xxx to ca. 357xxx; 1951 to 1959
* Aristocrat (Series III -- model 141 alto, etc.): s/n 357xxx to ca. 405xxx; 1959 to 1963
* 400 "Top Hat and Cane" model : s/n 295xxx to ca. 359xxx; 1941 to 1959
* 400 (Series II -- model S5 alto, etc.): s/n 359xxx to ca. 405xxx; 1959 to 1963

** Around s/n 381xxx -- possibly slightly earlier -- Selmer bought out Buescher. The latest picture I have of a Buescher-made Aristocrat is a s/n 375xxx. The earliest is an 11xx True Tone (split octave key!).

- In a very general sense, the True Tone was available in bare brass, lacquer, silver plate, silver plate body with gold plated keys, and gold plate. There were some "artist" models produced, but I don't have examples -- except for a York stencil. There were a select few sterling silver models available.
- In a very general sense, all other models were available in lacquer, lacquer with nickle keywork (except the New Aristocrat) silver plate, and possibly gold plate -- although I haven't seen any gold examples after the True Tones, I've heard a bunch of rumors and it's "logical" that it was available: Conn had it.
- The 400 "Top Hat and Cane" and Aristocrat "Big B" models were produced concurrently -- the 400 introduced and discontinued slightly after the Big B.
- There were some Aristocrat "Big B" models and 400 "Top Hat and Cane" models still available when the Aristocrat "II" came out.
- It is probable that the 400 started and ended production slightly later than the Big B.
- Most serial number charts become very spotty after 1942 and many years have no production data. I've estimated dates for horns in these "serial number black holes."
- I'm missing horns from some years. If you have pictures of one of these missing horns, gold plated post-True Tone horns, etc. send 'em my way!

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