Models
(odd numbers would indicate high pitch -- e.g. 11M tenor
-- and are not included)(5):
20M Straight Eb Sopranino (they called it an "Eb Soprano")
2M C Soprano
4M Bb Soprano, Curved
18M Bb Soprano, Straight
22M F Mezzo Soprano
24M Conn-O-Sax (F Alto)
6M Eb Alto
8M C Melody Tenor
10M Bb Tenor
12M Eb Baritone (low Bb; low A not available until 1955-ish)
14M Bb Bass
16V Eb Contabass Sarrusophone
Conn
experimented with a variety of different designs and
pitches, including the F Mezzo soprano, Conn-O-Sax
(F alto) and the rumored A, D and G sopranos. (The
F horns are discussed on a seperate page.) The jury
is still out as to whether Conn actually produced the anything
other than C and Bb sopranos.
Please
remember that Conn never produced a contrabass saxophone
-- they offered the Model
16V Eb Contrabass Sarrusophone as
an alternative.
Finish
Choices (all from a March, 1922 catalog, unless otherwise
marked):
000
- Virtuoso Deluxe (introduced around 1922 for the C
melody and on all models by the end of 1924 ): "Furnished
only on special orders and prices quoted on request." Heavily
gold plated over all, hand burnished over all. Each
and every key inlaid with special choice and carefully
selected pearls. Highest class hand engraving on bell
of instrument, as well as a greater portion of the
body, all of which is a special design and of the highest
character. (6)
00 - Artist's Special ("Burnished Gold"(7)):
Heavily gold plated, hand burnished over all, pearl inlaid keys, pearl rollers,
bell richly hand-engraved. Inside of bell, engraving background, keys, posts
and ferrules hand burnished.
0 - Artist Finish ("Satin Gold"): Heavily gold plated over all, pearl
inlaid keys and rollers, bell richly hand-engraved. Inside of bell engraving
background, keys, posts and ferrules hand burnished.
1 ("Silver & Gold"): Body heavily silver plated, sand blast velvet
finish, bell richly engraved, pearl finger tips, pearl rollers. Inside of bell,
engraving background keys and ferrules gold-plated and burnished.
2 ("Silver, Gold Bell"): Body heavily silver plated, sand blast velvet
finish, bell richly engraved, inside of bell gold plated [and] burnished. [E]ngraving
background, keys, posts and ferrules hand burnished. Keys inlaid with pearl and
pearl rollers.
3 : Quadruple silver plated over all, sand blast finish; interior of bell and
points hand burnished, finger tips pearl inlaid, and on saxophones, pearl rollers.
On woodwinds this finish symbol represents heavily silver plated keys, posts
and rods, hand burnished. (Not advertised in any catalog I have.)(8)
4 : Highly polished brass throughout, pearl inlaid finger tips and pearl rollers.
5 : Gold brass, highly polished, nickel-trimmed. (Not advertised in any catalog
I have.)(8)
6 : Body heavily nickel plated and highly polished, pearl inlaid finger tips,
pearl rollers.
CHROME
FINISH was the trade name for a colored enamel finish.
Available colors were red, white, blue, green, Old Rose
("dark pink") and black. This was available as an add-on
for any style of plating for a mere $15 extra, in March
1922 dollars.
POLY-CHROME
FINISH was the trade name for the CHROME finish, but
with added "beautiful designs on bell or body of flowers,
vines, etc. in various colors" and cost $25 extra, in
March 1922 dollars.
Conn
also saw fit to enclose a NOTE: "The Chrome or Poly-Chrome
finish will last according to the care given the instrument.
Should the owner desire to remove the colored finish,
send in the instrument to the factory or obtain
our advice on same. The original finish will not be affected
by the chrome finish after the latter has been removed."
There
are at least seven
standard engraving styles, that are slightly varied
as this series progresses. There were (allegedly) around
30 engraving patterns for the Finish 00 horns -- and
the engraving on the Finish 000 horns was supposed to
be unique.
Please
note that there are later relacquered examples
with a lacquer body with silver or nickel
keys. This is NOT original. In the late 1950's, Conn
produced their first horns with a lacquer body and nickel
keys. Conn then continued this finish choice for years.
So, it seems that when some people brought in their old
Conns for refinish work, the repairman would look at
the horn and say: "Relacquer? Yep. All the new ones
have a yellow body and nickle keys ..." not realizing
the variety of plating choices Conn had. I've seen a
couple of horns refurbished by Conn themselves relacquered
this way!
Additionally,
it is almost universally thought that lacquer was not
introduced until the 6M "Naked Lady" models,
starting around s/n 260xxx (1934). It seems to have been
a common practice to get old bare-brass horns lacquered
in the 1930's to protect the finish, but this was not
original -- it may have been done by Conn themselves,
but it's aftermarket.
|
20M |
2M |
4M |
18M |
22M |
24M |
6M |
8M |
10M |
12M |
14M |
16V |
00 |
210 |
200 |
210 |
200 |
260 |
250 |
220 |
225 |
275 |
380 |
510 |
440 |
0 |
175 |
175 |
180 |
170 |
220 |
210 |
210 |
215 |
235 |
325 |
430 |
400 |
1 |
145 |
165 |
160 |
135 |
185 |
175 |
175 |
180 |
180 |
280 |
335 |
350 |
2 |
120 |
130 |
120 |
115 |
145 |
135 |
155 |
140 |
140 |
190 |
270 |
335 |
6 |
110 |
100 |
110 |
100 |
120 |
110 |
110 |
115 |
125 |
180 |
240 |
275 |
4 |
100 |
95 |
100 |
95 |
110 |
100 |
100 |
105 |
115 |
160 |
220 |
225 |
A
price chart, in 1927/8 dollars. ONE
1927 dollar = 10.33 2006 dollars.
(In other words, tack another zero to the end of the price for about what that
horn would have cost today.)
Finish 000 horns, I have been told, generally cost twice as much as a Finish
0 horn.
|