Message Body:

Hi Pete,
 
Helps immensely!  Thanks.  I've included more pics (and didn't reduce the
size, so you should be able to get more detail) to help you see the octave
key and the workings of the sax.  Unfortunately it seems I missed a key
shot, but the description would be no pearl or insert, only molded metal,
and quite worn.  This sax has seen quite a few years of play.
 
The horn does, I believe, play in tune!  Although I'm back to being a
beginner sax player after putting in down for 20 years, it tunes very nicely
to my trombone.  Unfortunately, I don't have a keyboard around to compare
against.  The tone is surprisingly smooth as well (surprising in that I
didn't think I could produce a tone like that again!)
 
I assumed the DLP simply stood for "Dolnet, Lefevre, and Pigis".  May
be
their initials were a coincidence!
 
Again, thank you for the assistance.  I've been practicing on this and may
one day become good again.  I feel very good about my purchase, too, and
appreciate the information you've given me.
 
Thanks again! -- Jim
 
PS - please feel free to add this one to your website!

-----Original Message-----
From: The Vintage Saxophone Gallery [mailto:mailto:saxpics@hotmail.com <compose.php?actionID=33&to=saxpics@hotmail.com>]

Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 11:14 AM
To: Jim@Dunlavey.net
Subject: Re: Help with a Dolnet Identification

Well, several things:
 
* Mine is the only website about Dolnet :)
 
* The horn you have is one of a series that I have not listed on my website.
Based on the engraving and key layout, I'd say the horn was produced between
1888 (when Dolnet started making saxophones) and 1920.  If it has a
double-octave key (which I can't really tell from the pictures), call it
about 1905-1912.  Please send many, many more pics to saxpics@x-mail.net
 
* Probably is silver, not nickel plate.  Horns of this era have very heavy
silver plate: I have a 1912-ish Buffet curved soprano that has such bright
silver plate, you can think it's nickel.  If you see any black tarnish,
that'll tell you definitely positively that it's silver.  Nickel does
"tarnish": it oxidizes white and becomes a bit dull.
 
* Dolnet rarely gave model names to their horns, and only one or two
manufacturers had model names for horns this early.  Just call it an "Early
Dolnet" :)
 
* Value?  That depends on a couple of things.  "DLP" may refer to one
of the
variant pitches used in the late 19th and beginning of the 20th century,
possibly as low as A=435hz.  Modern pitch ("low pitch" or
"LP") is A=440hz.
If the horn plays incredibly out of tune, you probably have one of these
variant pitches, which makes the saxophone interesting only as an historical
oddity.  If it has a single octave key and plays in tune (in other words,
"DLP" means "Dolnet, Low Pitch"), consider the value to be
similar to that
of a same-period low-pitch Buffet: around $500 US, maximum.
 
Hope this helps!
Pete

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jim Dunlavey <mailto:mailto:Jim@Dunlavey.net <compose.php?actionID=33&to=Jim@Dunlavey.net>>
 
To: saxpics@hotmail.com 
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 11:43 PM
Subject: Help with a Dolnet Identification

Hello Pete,
 
Your site seems to be one of the most comprehensive regarding old Dolnet
saxophones!  I've acquired one (simply liked the sax, not knowing anything
about it) and was wondering if you could help or provide guidance in
learning more about it.
 
The saxophone came from a little music shop in Argentina and required a fair
amount of clean-up (pad replacement, clean-up, re-seating of some keys) but
now plays wonderfully.  I'm interested in learning more about the sax (age,
type, value, etc...) and am having a very hard time finding anything that
matches it.
 
It's a silver-colored (although I believe it to be nickel because it's not
tarnished too badly) alto sax, bell keys are on the inside (left) of the
bell rather than outside, and it doesn't have the normal Dolnet art-deco
keyguards.  The bell inscription is very simple, with a serial number of
9677.  Pictures are included.
 
Any help you can give would be most appreciated!
 
Thank you and thanks for a great site,
 
Jim