1935 MARTIN Handcraft Bb Soprano, curved #113k
Price: $SOLD
- Year: 1935
- Make: Martin
- Model: Handcraft
- Status: SOLD!
- Finish: Old Relacquer
- Serial Number: 113,xxx
Considering the serial number, this is a very very late Handcraft Soprano! One of my favorite sopranos is Martin. These curved ones are super rare! It is keyed to high Eb. The finish may be tricky to say--let's call it a Relacquer with 90% intact. Lacquer was first being used on saxes in this 1934+era. Consider that into the history of the sax. I can not say for certain that this sax was silver or bare brass originally. Perhaps during the rebuild I will be able to see a mark to tell me more history of the sax. It currently does play all the way down to Bb and it has a wamr, curved soprano sound. (See Conn Sound Files). ser #113K dates it to 1935, relacquer finish with mild pitting. NO MAJOR DAMAGE to mention, I don't see anything worth mentioning on that topic. The ring soldered to the thumbrest appears to be an addition after factory build. The body is very clean of dents or past damage. The original case shows wear from 80yrs of age, but some odor spray will help it and I'll take care of that for you.
***Added research note, from later date: As many Martin serial numbers change these 107k-114k saxes with the Imperial and the Standard models, the curved soprano looks extremely similar the late 1920s "Handcraft". The only difference I can see is that the octave thumb button is now a pearl (upgrade) instead of a brass part.
Perhaps I should have called this a "Handcraft standard" model, but it looks like there is no real design change worth altering the name on the curved sopranos.
Item #: WWST6.2W5.11101.5-C00-001
