• Manufacturer: The Elkhart Band Instrument Company was originally founded in 1923 in Elkhart, Indiana, and later merged into the Buescher Band Instrument Company as a subsidiary.
• Dating via Serial Numbers: According to vintage Elkhart (Buescher) production records compiled by instrument restoration researchers like Stock Instrument Repair, serial numbers in the 7,250 to 9,000 range correspond precisely to the years 1934 (7250) and 1935 (9000).
• Characteristics: Horns from this mid-1930s period reflect early student-to-intermediate models produced following Buescher’s acquisition, often utilizing traditional American tooling and distinct vintage keywork features of that decade.
  Collectibility and Playability

  Instruments with this exact engraving are considered the best era for the Elkhart brand. Because the company was operating as a subsidiary of Buescher at this time, this saxophone was constructed using Buescher’s high-quality tooling and brass. They are known by vintage horn collectors to produce a warm, robust, and dark tone similar to the premium Buescher True Tone models of that era.

  Mid-1930s Key Guard Details

  • Low Bb and B Cages: The guards covering the large bell keys on the lower bow are constructed out of round brass wire curves soldered to mounting feet. This gives the saxophone its distinct “open” vintage look.
  • The Transition Period: Solid sheet metal guards (like the “ribbon” or “clover” style plates seen on later 1940s and 1950s models) were not adopted by the Elkhart Band Instrument Company until much later.
    The Elkhart Band Instrument Company went through several engraving styles during its mid-1930s transition:
    • The Shield Variant (This Horn): Features a sharp, diamond-like geometric shield frame, stylized sun rays shooting downward, and text cut with straight lines. It showcases the classic 1930s Art Deco movement style.
    • The “Elk-in-Heart” Variant: A separate style from roughly the same era (and heavily used into the 1940s/50s) that included the actual illustration of an elk head inside a heart shape.

    Both styles were used concurrently or in close succession on the exact same Buescher-built student/intermediate bodies. Your text banner reading “THE ELKHART” confirms it shares the identical acoustic design and robust, dark vintage tone as its elk-engraved siblings

    Why the Original Neck Matters

    • Acoustic Intonation: Vintage Elkhart/Buescher saxophones have a highly specific bore taper. The original matching neck ensures that the horn stays in tune across the lower, upper, and altissimo registers. Modern aftermarket replacements often throw off the intonation.
    • Preserved Market Value: For vintage instruments, a missing or replaced neck instantly slashes the overall value of the saxophone by 40% to 50%. Having the original keeps its historical and market value intact.

      Condition
      We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

      • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10
      • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 9.5 – Re-lacquered
      • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 none noted
      • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 8 case has scuffs on the edges
      • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 

• Design & Attributes: Traditional sized bell (unlike Cannonball’s famous “Big Bell” professional series), synthetic finger buttons, high F# key, laser-engraved details, and a standard gold-lacquered brass finish.
• Serial Number Check: If you are shopping for a used Excalibur, look for a serial number of 105205 or higher. Saxophone technicians note that models built after 2001 corrected earlier manufacturing and key-action issues.
• Value & Playability: The Excalibur remains an excellent, cost-effective alternative to a brand-new student horn. Because it is an older model, ensure the seller verifies the status of the pads, or budget an extra $100–$200 for a local technician to set up and leak-test the keywork.
  Overview and Features
  • Target Audience: Designed for advancing students and semi-professional players looking for a reliable, durable horn.
  • Design & Tone: Known for a warm, full tone, solid construction, and strong projection. The keywork is often built slightly closer together to accommodate younger or smaller hands.
  • Production Eras: Cannonball produced various iterations of the Excalibur series across different manufacturing runs from the late 1990s through the 2000s (such as the ’96 and ’03 Excalibur series)

    Condition
    We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect

    • • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 No dents
      • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 9 A few scratches
      • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None.
      • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) –10   Original hard case
      • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 plays like a new saxophone

   

• Fresh Professional Overhaul: This horn is 100% gig-ready. It has just received a complete top-to-bottom professional overhaul featuring brand new Music Medic Neo pads, corks, and meticulous mechanical adjustments. You will not need to spend a dime at a repair shop; it plays effortlessly from top to bottom with that fat, dark, resonant vintage Martin sound.
• 100% Intact Pearls: The biggest risk with buying a Typewriter model is missing or damaged key pearls, which are nearly impossible to replace. Every single round mother-of-pearl button on this horn is original, fully intact, and crack-free.
• Original Silver Plating: The saxophone features its beautiful original silver-plated finish, Over 99% intact, a scratch near the thumb hook and 2 light scuffs on the lower bell.

• 1929 Martin “Typewriter” Alto Saxophone (Serial #93134)
• Vintage Case
• Original Martin #2 Mouthpiece with ligature
• end plug

  Condition
  We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

  • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10
  • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 9.5 – 1 scratch on thumb hook, scuff on lower bell
  • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 none noted
  • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 10 
  • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 – Fresh top end overhaul featuring Neo Pads

Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

• Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 9 A couple of small dimples on the bell and body
• Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 7 A bit of lacquer wear with a nice patina.
• Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None noted
• Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 10 Brand new padded gig bag
• Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 Has just been rebuilt, all new pads, corks and felts.

Design and Build Characteristics

• Serial Numbers: A 1940 model typically falls in the roughly 133,000 to 139,000 serial range.

• Engraving: Distinctive art-deco lion and crown graphic stamped on the bell.

• Mechanics: Includes an adjustable thumb rest, solid nickel-silver keywork, and an advanced octave mechanism with pitch adjustment for second-octave C#.
• Tone Holes: Employs tapered, beveled tone holes characteristic of vintage Martin craftsmanship.
• Construction: Thick-walled brass body giving it a robust build, though delicate original lacquer often shows wear or burn. 

Tone and Playability

• Sound Profile: Known for a big, warm, and refined dark tone rather than a loud, aggressive commercial tone.
• Intonation: Balanced scale and reliable intonation across registers, making it popular for jazz ballads and small groups

Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

• • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 Perfect, no dents or deep scratches
  • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 10 No lacquer, beautiful patina
  • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None noted
  • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 9 Minimal wear on case
  • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 Freshly rebuilt plays like new.

• The Manufacturer: Buescher was one of the premier American instrument makers, famous for their rich, warm tone.
• The Underlying Model: Based on the 1923 production year and the 126,000 serial number block, this horn is structurally identical to the famous Buescher True Tone Series.
• Stencil Branding: Carl Fischer did not build saxophones. They bought blank instruments from manufacturers like Buescher and engraved their own company name on the bell to sell in their retail catalogs.

• Pitch Standard: Look for a small “LP” stamped near the serial number. This stands for Low Pitch (A=440Hz), which is the standard tuning used today. If it says “HP” (High Pitch), it will play out of tune with modern ensembles.

Snap-On Pads: Buescher instruments from this era often featured patented “Snap-On” pads and screw-in resonators, a highly recognizable trait of vintage Buescher bodi

Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect

• • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 No dents
  • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 10 Silver plating is in like new condition
  • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None.
  • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 7  Brand New Original hard case (missing handle)
  • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 plays like a new saxophone

• Full Ribbed Construction: Rather than soldering individual key posts directly to the body tube, the posts are first brazed to a long brass strip (a “rib”), which is then soldered to the body. This adds structural weight, producing a richer, warmer, and more centered tone with greater projection.
• High F# Side Key: This extends the native range of the horn up to high F#, a standard feature on modern professional saxophones that allows for easier alternate fingerings in the altissimo register.
• Fully Engraved Body: Deluxe hand engraving covers the bell, bow, and sometimes the body tube. This provides a highly premium, customized aesthetic.
• Abalone Key Touches: Premium real-shell abalone inlays replace standard mother-of-pearl or plastic key buttons. They offer a striking multi-color, iridescent look and a distinct tactile feel.
• Removable Bow: The bottom bow section is secured to the main body tube with a connecting collar and screws rather than being permanently soldered. This allows a technician to easily remove the bottom section to tap out dents from dropping the horn or to clean accumulated scale

  Condition
  We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect

  • • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 Brand New
    • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 10 Brand New
    • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None.
    • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 10  Brand New
    • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 plays like a new saxophone.

• High-Quality Construction: Typically features a yellow brass body with a gold-lacquered finish. Some variants, like the
  CES-760-III

  , often include a sterling silver neck (or silver-plated) to enhance tone and resonance.

• Keywork and Action: Includes a High F# key and an adjustable thumb rest. The key mechanism is designed for smooth, responsive action to assist developing players.
• Ergonomics: Many models in this series feature adjustable palm keys, allowing the instrument to be customized for hands of any size.
• Pads: Often equipped with Pisoni deluxe pads and plastic or metal tone boosters for a better seal and brighter sound.

Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

• Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 8  dent on the bell
• Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 9 –
• Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 none noted
• Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 9 
• Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 – Fresh re-pad, lube and adjustment