Lyon & Healy 'American Professional' ( Buescher ) C-Melody Sax.
This is a Lyon & Healy C melody low pitch Saxophone, from the 1920's , manufactured by Buescher, being sold with a new modern tenor sax mouthpiece - using standard tenor reeds. This set-up produces quite a contemporary blues/rock/jazz sound, with the lovely Buescher 'depth'.
The markings on the sax bell read: LYON & HEALY - AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL - CHICAGO. On the back it reads: 90704 - LOW PITCH - PAT. DEC 8, 1914. It has the traditional Buescher 'scalloped' fin on the bow of the sax, and pearl inlaid round G# key. The instrument is (modern standard) Low Pitch, A=440, and the tuning has been checked satisfactorily against other modern instruments and an electronic tuner.
Lyon & Healy was a big US instrument retailer based in Chicago, who had all their saxophones manufactured by major manufacturers like Buescher, Conn and Martin - but sold them engraved with the Lyon & Healy name - you will often see them referred to as 'Stencils'. Great value horns, quality and hand-built as well as any you'll ever find.
This sax is in good playing order - tan leather pads have been professionally replaced at some stage, and still have a lot of life left in them - see the 'bell' picture. A really good chance to own this classic C-Melody sax with a very reasonable reserve price. As with all 80 year old used instruments, it has a few minor dings - mostly around the base (bow) area, and a small amount of lacquer pitting and discolouration. But overall the standard of the lacquer finish is quite good , and the sax has v.g.c. mother of pearl inserts on the main keys.
The pictures below have been taken with natural lighting to try to best show the features of this classic instrument - in reality the colour of the lacquer is a deeper gold. Some reflections and shadow show in the lacquer, it's not all wear ! The mouthpiece shown is my old Couf, used to test the sax - the mouthpiece supplied is new, unused except for a quick test and to record the sound sample.