Selmer Paris Reference 54 Serial Numbers 8/30/2019 Inspired by the Mark VI model released in 1954, the Selmer Paris 72 Reference 54 alto is a professional saxophone that integrates the Mark VI's legendary acoustic characteristics with innovative modern key work and better intonation. Selmer clarinet serial number list from Granlund Woodwind Repair. 1927-1953 Selmer Serial Number List from UArk. Thanks to Jim Gray for this Signet model information! According to information on Selmer's trademark application, the stand-alone 'Signet' name was first used in 1947. Stand-alone meaning just the word 'Signet' inside the oval logo.

Years and Serial Numbers are Approximate.
Buescher Trumpet Serial numbers are most often found on the 2nd valve casing - OR if that is buffed off, check on one of the valves themselves! Pull out a valve and look on the section just below the button and stem. In MOST Buecher trumpets in the 1950s and earlier, you can find the serial number here as well.
Please see the Bell Logos section to see samples of each Bell Logo.

• The clarinet pictured above is a Conn HP E Albert, and was one of the first ever made. For more information about serial numbers check the bottom of the page dedicated to the specific instruments. Information to be added Be sure to visit the picture links. Frederic Fabre plays a Silva-Bet in 'Oublie' by laminederien.
• Factory Confirmed serials: Cornet 1162 made in 1957. Fluglehorn 9xx made in early 1960s, 1035 made in 1965 The above table was partially constructed based on Alan's Trumpet World.
• About Conn-Selmer Conn-Selmer Careers Diversity and Inclusion Plan Latest News Resources Conn-Selmer Videos Frequently Asked Questions Purchase an Instrument Serial Numbers Warranty Information.

If your Buescher Trumpet/Cornet bares an engraving of an ELK on the bell, please see the note below the serial number chart.

*1950 Serial number is different on various sites.. so I have listed BOTH numbers, I think the number MORE accurate would be 326000.

Please note that there are a FEW exceptions to this chart.
1) Some of the modern Buescher labeled trumpets from the 1970-present that have serial numbers that do not correspond to this chart. Most seem to have the 'Upsidedown Nike' Bell Logo and are model BU-7. Selmer must have done a serial number 'reset' at some point.

2) I have also noticed some of the 1960s 'Side Scroller' and possibly 'Top Scroller' logoed trumpets/cornets that have serial numbers in the 100,000 range. These obviously are NOT subject to this serial number chart. These are most likely mid to late 1960s instruments.
3) Most (if not all) Buescher trumpets that have the 'ELK' logo have a separate serial number listing. The Valve Block on these instruments are made by Elkhart and thus have a completely different numbering system.

Any Trumpet or Cornet with the engraving of an ELK (see below) will NOT match up on the Buescher Serial number list. They also bear the inscription 'BUILT BY BUESCHER'. These instruments had their OWN serial numbering system. Most were made post World War II possibly up to 1960. If you see one of these horns and the owner is claiming they are from the 1920s or 1930s or before, then they are using the wrong serial number chart. I do not know if an Elkhart Serial number list exists or not.

Big Thanks to Dr Rick's Vinllage Flute and Sax Shop website for providing some of the serial numbers and years produced.
I also gathered information for this page from MusicTrader.com website that cites Albert Mensinga as the source for MANY of the serial numbers.
If you happen to have any additional information that would make this chart MORE accurate, please feel free to email me.

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When was your Selmer Paris Saxophone made?

This is the most accurate Selmer Serial Number Chart on the internet!

Friend of GetASax.com Douglas Pipher has been given unprecedented access to the Selmer Paris archives, and after thousands of hours of research has compiled a brand new and more Selmer Serial Number Chart for Selmer saxophones. With permission, we have printed the results of his research below.

If you are wanting to sell your Selmer saxophone, we are always buying vintage saxophones. Please email us at [email protected]

Selmer Serial Numbers – a Fresh Approach

Douglas Pipher, June 20, 2017

The existing Selmer Serial Number Chart has been available on the internet for years. Many saxophonists use it as the authority for determining when an instrument was made. But there are problems with the existing chart, such as the timing of the introduction of the different models. It seems unlikely that every new model was introduced exactly at the beginning of a new year. It also seems unlikely that each year’s production ended at a conveniently round number. Was the chart built from specific data or was it just someone’s estimate; a guess which eventually became assumed to be an absolute truth? With these questions in mind, the need for a fresh look became clear, to see if there was a way to measure the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of the existing chart. Douglas Pipher decided to take on the challenge.

Clearly the first step was to collect as much primary data as possible. It is well known that Selmer Paris possesses some archival records but they are not available to the public. With a background in statistical analysis and an established record in the study of Selmer history, Douglas was able to secure access to these archives. Once there, the daunting nature of the task became apparent. The archives are comprised of a series of very old and fragile notebooks, written by a variety of people, in a variety of handwriting styles. Some were neat and detailed and others were nearly illegible and of course, it is all written in French. But, the fact that all the data still existed was like finding a treasure.

The archive records contain four key elements:

– Instrument type (Alto, Tenor etc)
– Finish and custom features
– Shipping date
– Destination

In most cases, there was no mention of what model was being produced. The data started at serial #5000 and continued for over 75 years. Whether earlier notebooks were lost or were never kept is unfortunately unknown.

The first phase of the research was to study the records from the beginning up to the end of the Mark VI era. (1927 to 1975) After several trips to Paris and several thousand hours of research and study, the original shipping data was collected and organized. Finally, it was possible to do a detailed study of each year’s actual sales and compare them the to the information suggested in the existing serial number chart.

Let’s take a look at 1927, the earliest year for which full data was available.

The existing serial number chart showed a range from 5601 to 7850. By simple subtraction, 2249 saxophones were allegedly built in 1927. A search of the actual shipping dates for this serial number range revealed the following:

Only 1537 saxophones within this range were shipped in 1927. An additional 404 were shipped in 1928 and 27 more were shipped even later than that. Dividing the actual number (1537) by the alleged number (2249) revealed that the serial number range for 1927 was only 68% correct. Clearly, there was room for improvement.

Selmer - ClarinetPages

This process was repeated for each year up to 1975. The average accuracy for the entire existing serial number chart was a disappointing 66%. That’s only two out of three! So about a third of the people using the list got the wrong year for their saxophone. It quickly became obvious that an improved chart was needed.

Fortunately, the primary shipping data could now be used to rebuild the serial number chart from scratch. Beginning with a list of all the actual 1927 sales, they were sorted by serial number. Next, they were grouped into serial number ranges of 100. (5000 – 5099, 5100 – 5199 etc) and the total number of 1927 sales within each group was calculated.

The chart at left shows that less than one quarter of the saxes in the 5000 to 5299 serial number range were sold in 1927. Most were sold in 1926. The range from 7300 to 7800 also showed less than half of the sales in 1927, with most of the remainder being sold in 1928. Between the 5300 and 7299 range, most of the saxes were sold in 1927. This range became the initial boundary for 1927 production. By taking a closer look, right down to individual instruments, the starting and ending points of the range were modified as needed. The most accurate serial number range for 1927 was finalized as 5300 – 7280. Repeating this process for each year up to 1975 resulted in the development of a chart with an average accuracy of 82%. For searches of Alto or Tenor only, the accuracy rose to 86%.

Selmer Clarinet Serial Number Search

Why is the new chart not 100% accurate? A look at the 1927 chart to the left makes the answer quite clear. As mentioned above, the 1927 range was determined to be 5300 – 7280, so the 1928 serial number range logically started at 7281. But many saxophones from 7300 to 7800 were sold in 1927. The majority of the horns in this range which were sold in 1928, but clearly not all of them. There are many reasons for this. Different distributors had different specifications, which affected delivery times. The US-Market horns, for instance, were not normally engraved, padded or lacquered in France. This meant that US-Market horns shipped earlier than others.

See Full List On Saxpics.com

The more unusual types of saxophones, such as the Sopranino or Bass, were often sold months or even years later than one might expect. Individual saxophones with custom finishes or features would naturally take longer to build, thus delaying their completion date. In building as complex an instrument as a saxophone, there are many reasons why and individual sax’s completion date could be delayed by days, weeks or months.

The improved serial number chart is by no means flawless. But it’s does allow for a far greater level of confidence for Selmer owners and enthusiasts. Douglas’ ongoing primary research continues to extend the scope of the improved chart, into the Mark VII range and beyond. Douglas Pipher is a Canadian saxophonist, collector and researcher who has spent the last several years studying Selmer instruments with the goal of improving our understanding of Selmer history through primary research. He can be reached at: [email protected]