(Test 1 - port topic from old blog) Now that Really IS a leaky tonehole....

... and it's not a Martin  !  (it's not magic, either) Carolyn emailed me, and put some pictures up on Flickr of an interesting C-Melody saxophone she's acquired. It's marked J.R. LAFLEUR & SON LTD, 147 WARDOUR STREET, LONDON. W1

Here's the link to the Flickr photo set (click here)

At a quick glance you'd notice the'Pontiac rings' on the bell/bow joints, and that (partially) soldered tonehole, and say "Ah - Martin or IBI Co".  But then there's both bell toneholes on the same side, and the long soldered 'guard' feet so typical of European design.  So, a little more investigation is called for. I guess more will be added later, as the mystery unravels...  Any suggestions as to the origins ?

Some of the angular bits on the mechanism (and the bow/bell joint rings) are very similar to my recently acquired Kohlert C-Melody  - but only some !

My 1931 Martin C-Melody Sax - you've seen it before...

1931 Martin C-Melody Sax, a photo by dorset driftwood on Flickr.

The C-Sax Annexe is slowly rising - like Pheonix - from the ashes... This is just exploring if / how I can integrate pictures from my Flickr sets. Made in the early 30's, and now (mostly) repadded with cheap Chinese reflector pads - they aren't that bad - it's a very useful instrument.

Shame about the 'up-front and close' playing position, but that's the way it was in the Roaring 20's. I do draw the line at 'Dapper Dan' hair gel tho' :-)

Click on this link to view the complete set - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorsetdriftwood/sets/72157604276618293/
(btw, the pictures were taken before the repad...)